The Las Vegas Raiders opened preparations for Sunday's showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs without starting right guard Jackson Powers-Johnson.
The Las Vegas Raiders could be without a starting offensive lineman for their biggest game of the young season.
Right guard Jackson Powers-Johnson did not practice Wednesday because of the groin injury he suffered late in Sunday's 35-27 victory over the New Orleans Saints.
Powers-Johnson left the game for the final five offensive plays, with Caleb Rogers replacing him at right guard.
Raiders coach Klint Kubiak said Monday that Powers-Johnson had a "sore groin" and was still being evaluated. The news didn't improve when Las Vegas returned to practice Wednesday.
Powers-Johnson was held out, although Kubiak indicated there is still a chance he could return before Sunday's showdown with the Kansas City Chiefs.
The Raiders are hopeful Powers-Johnson can practice at some point this week, according to Silver and Black Pride.
If he can't play Sunday, Las Vegas already has a familiar replacement waiting.
Rogers and Powers-Johnson competed for the starting right guard job throughout training camp, with Kubiak saying in August that the Raiders were counting on both players during the season.
Powers-Johnson ultimately won the job, but Rogers remained directly behind him on the depth chart and stepped in when Powers-Johnson went down against New Orleans.
That competition could become particularly important this week.
The Raiders entered the season with questions surrounding the right side of their offensive line, and Powers-Johnson's performance at right guard was identified as one of the team's potential X-factors.
Now his availability is uncertain ahead of a matchup that carries significantly more weight than most Week 4 games.
Las Vegas and Kansas City will enter Sunday with identical 3-0 records. It will be the first time in the rivalry's long history that the Raiders and Chiefs have faced each other with both teams starting 3-0.
Powers-Johnson still has time to return to practice this week and potentially play Sunday.
But after missing the Raiders' first practice of the week, his status will be worth watching closely as Sunday's AFC West showdown approaches.
