Raiders probably won't have Amerson against Brady, Patriots

ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) - The Oakland Raiders will likely be without cornerback David Amerson when they play Tom Brady and the New England Patriots in Mexico City on Sunday.

Amerson, who has missed the past two games with a foot injury, sat out practice again Friday and worked with a trainer on the sidelines. The fifth-year veteran will travel to Mexico but is listed as doubtful on the team's injury report.

"He ran well enough on the side for it to be a consideration," Raiders coach Jack Del Rio said. "Still doubtful, which means what it is. The percentages are not great that he's going to play but there's that possibility that remains."

Del Rio had been hopeful that Amerson would recover enough during the bye week to play against the Patriots. Instead, the Raiders' best cornerback is almost certain to be inactive for a third consecutive game while Dexter McDonald will likely start in Amerson's absence.

"You just have to plug in, coach up and move on. Nobody really cares," Del Rio said.

The Raiders have had to shuffle their secondary most of the season due to injuries and poor play.

Oakland's projected lineup of Amerson, Sean Smith and safeties Reggie Nelson and Karl Joseph has started only one game together this year. Smith lost his starting job early in the year. Amerson also missed time because of a concussion and shoulder injury.

Earlier this week, the Raiders placed first-round pick Gareon Conley on season-ending injured reserve due to a shin injury that has plagued the rookie cornerback since camp. Conley, the 24th overall pick, played in only two games and made seven tackles.

Second-rounder Obi Melifonwu spent the first eight weeks of the season on injured reserve after undergoing knee surgery. Melifonwu made his debut in Oakland's 27-24 win over Miami on Nov. 5.

The Raiders also lost backup cornerback Antonio Hamilton to a season-ending knee injury in October.

"The areas where we've had injuries are probably the two thinnest positions coming into the season," Del Rio said. "Linebackers and corners have been the two spots that have really been hit the hardest. Sometimes it goes that way. We feel like we're practicing well and that we're building our confidence. We'll get a great challenge this weekend to see where we are with arguably the greatest quarterback to play, at least in the modern era."

Oakland heads into Sunday's game ranked 22nd in pass defense and is the lone team in the NFL without an interception this season.

Notes: Right guard Gabe Jackson (ankle), linebacker Cory James (knee), right tackle Marshall Newhouse (hip/quad) and fullback Jamize Olawale (hamstring) were all limited and are questionable.

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