The Kansas City Chiefs will visit the Oakland Raiders for their first division matchup of 2014 on Thursday Night Football. Both teams have extensive injury reports and their depth at a number of positions will be affected as a result.
The Chiefs have won seven of their last eight games after starting 0-2 and now head to Oakland to face the 0-10 Raiders. However, they'll be without wide receivers Donnie Avery (groin) and A.J. Jenkins (shoulder). Although Avery has only 14 receptions for 156 yards and Jenkins has 9 catches for 93 yards, their depth at the position will be an issue, leaving Junior Hemingway (11 catches for 104 yards) to step up in case the team needs to resort to the passing game.
Kansas City will also be without slot cornerback Chris Owens, who will miss his fifth game of the season due to a knee injury. Backup cornerback Jamell Fleming (hamstring) is listed as questionable and was limited in practice this week. The rest of the team's defenders, cornerback Sean Smith (groin), Tamba Hali (knee) and Philip Gaines (ankle), are listed as probable and should be good to go.
Others on the offensive side of the ball, including guards Mike McGlynn (knee) and Zach Fulton (ankle) and tight end Travis Kelce (ribs) are also listed as probable and were full participants in practice. However, tight end Anthony Fasano (knee) is listed as questionable, but it's believed he will play.
The Raiders evidently have some issues in their secondary as well. Cornerback Carlos Rogers (knee) is out and will miss his fourth straight game. Backup corner Travis Carrie (ankle) will join him on the sidelines after being held out of practice all week. Backup safety Jonathan Dowling (back) is also out and will miss his third straight game.
Among the others, starting middle linebacker Miles Burris (hip) and quarterback Derek Carr (quadriceps) are listed as probable. Backup tight end David Ausberry (foot) will be held out of action tonight and guard Gabe Jackson (knee) is listed as questionable.
Kansas City swept Oakland last year, but the Raiders did the same to them in 2012. It's been a pretty even matchup over the years with the Raiders leading 6-4 in the last 10 meetings. Tune in to CBS or NFL Network at 8:00 p.m. for coverage of tonight's game.
