I was leaning towards Tennesse in this game, but with a healthy Garner and Buchanon in the rotation the Raiders might look liike a completely different team. Their ofense looked very vanilla in the preseason, I expect them to do better from here on out. So I'm backing away, although you'd still have to lean towards Tennesse I guess with the way these two teams performed in the preseason. The Raiders started out slow last year as well.
Cornerbacks getting healthier
notebook
ALAMEDA -- Cornerbacks Phillip Buchanon and Nnamdi Asomugha received increased repetitions during practice Sunday and are expected to play against the Tennessee Titans this Sunday, coach Bill Callahan said.
Also, running back Charlie Garner (knee) practiced on a limited basis Sunday and should be cleared to play against the Titans.
"We're pleased with that," Callahan said. "We plan on playing all of them in the Titans games."
Buchanon missed all four of the Raiders' exhibition games with a right hamstring injury.
Asomugha, a rookie from Cal and one of the team's two first-round draft choices, missed part of training camp and the first two exhibition games with a bruised right shoulder.
Their return gives the Raiders 50 healthy players for their regular-season opener against the Titans.
Offensive tackles Langston Walker (knee) and Chad Slaughter (foot) and defensive end Sam Williams (knee) didn't practice Sunday and remain questionable for the Titans game, Callahan said.
Giddy rookies
Safety Siddeeq Shabazz and defensive end Akbar Gbaja-Biamila were among the long shots who made Oakland's opening-day roster.
Gbaja-Biamila, an undrafted free agent from San Diego State, said he used a heavyweight fight -- the "Thrilla in Manila" between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier in 1975 -- as motivation to bounce back from getting knocked out on a kickoff play in Oakland's game against the Dallas Cowboys on Friday.
"I was saying, 'Akbar, you got to get back up,'" he recalled Sunday.
He did, thereby further showing his resolve to his coaches and teammates.
Shabazz, a seventh-round pick from New Mexico State, played well enough throughout the preseason to overcome a Dallas game in which he got beat for big plays on at least two occasions.
"I didn't know what to expect," Shabazz said. "I didn't know if they could write it off as a rookie mistake or something that could be fixed."
Nash gone ... for now
Safety Keyon Nash (torn pectoral muscle) was placed on the waived-injured list Sunday. He would go on Oakland's injured-reserve list and be ineligible to play for the Raiders this season if he clears waivers by 9 a.m. today.
Extra points
Callahan excused Frank Middleton from practice so that the right guard could be with his wife, who delivered a girl Saturday night. ... Foothill High School graduate David Moretti is a strong candidate to be signed to Oakland's practice squad, based on the Raiders' carrying only five linebackers and his strong showing early on during training camp. He was cut Tuesday.
Cornerbacks getting healthier
notebook
ALAMEDA -- Cornerbacks Phillip Buchanon and Nnamdi Asomugha received increased repetitions during practice Sunday and are expected to play against the Tennessee Titans this Sunday, coach Bill Callahan said.
Also, running back Charlie Garner (knee) practiced on a limited basis Sunday and should be cleared to play against the Titans.
"We're pleased with that," Callahan said. "We plan on playing all of them in the Titans games."
Buchanon missed all four of the Raiders' exhibition games with a right hamstring injury.
Asomugha, a rookie from Cal and one of the team's two first-round draft choices, missed part of training camp and the first two exhibition games with a bruised right shoulder.
Their return gives the Raiders 50 healthy players for their regular-season opener against the Titans.
Offensive tackles Langston Walker (knee) and Chad Slaughter (foot) and defensive end Sam Williams (knee) didn't practice Sunday and remain questionable for the Titans game, Callahan said.
Giddy rookies
Safety Siddeeq Shabazz and defensive end Akbar Gbaja-Biamila were among the long shots who made Oakland's opening-day roster.
Gbaja-Biamila, an undrafted free agent from San Diego State, said he used a heavyweight fight -- the "Thrilla in Manila" between Muhammad Ali and Joe Frazier in 1975 -- as motivation to bounce back from getting knocked out on a kickoff play in Oakland's game against the Dallas Cowboys on Friday.
"I was saying, 'Akbar, you got to get back up,'" he recalled Sunday.
He did, thereby further showing his resolve to his coaches and teammates.
Shabazz, a seventh-round pick from New Mexico State, played well enough throughout the preseason to overcome a Dallas game in which he got beat for big plays on at least two occasions.
"I didn't know what to expect," Shabazz said. "I didn't know if they could write it off as a rookie mistake or something that could be fixed."
Nash gone ... for now
Safety Keyon Nash (torn pectoral muscle) was placed on the waived-injured list Sunday. He would go on Oakland's injured-reserve list and be ineligible to play for the Raiders this season if he clears waivers by 9 a.m. today.
Extra points
Callahan excused Frank Middleton from practice so that the right guard could be with his wife, who delivered a girl Saturday night. ... Foothill High School graduate David Moretti is a strong candidate to be signed to Oakland's practice squad, based on the Raiders' carrying only five linebackers and his strong showing early on during training camp. He was cut Tuesday.
