It’s been some time since we saw Jackson Powers-Johnson take the practice field. He’s been on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list all of camp so far. That all will end today as he has come off the PUP list and will take the field for the team’s open practice at Allegiant Wednesday night.
“He’ll be at practice today. Hell be limited,” said head coach Antonio Pierce. “And like anybody else we got to ramp him back up. He has a few weeks, we got a few weeks before the game.”
Since Powers-Johnson has been out, veteran Cody Whitehair has been taking first team snaps at left guard. And that looks to continue for the foreseeable future, including when the regular season arrives.
“To sit there and say he’ll probably be a starter day one? Eh, probably not,” Pierce continued. “But I think it’s always smart with rookies not a rush him. First of all, it’s learning curve, then it’s getting in there and getting back into practice shape and game shape. So, he’s got a way to go and I think he’s done a good job off to the side on his own. Now he’s back, he’s off PUP and we’re excited to have him back.”
The Raiders selected Powers-Johnson with the 44th overall pick in April’s draft with the hopes of making the Rimington Award winner their every day starting left guard immediately. That plan will be on hold for now.