KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Chiefs hit the road for Oakland with few if any significant injuries, giving coach Andy Reid the opportunity to deploy much of the starting lineup the team envisioned during training camp and the preseason.
Aug. 21, 2015; Kansas City, MO; Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles runs the ball during the first half of preseason action against the Seattle Seahawks at Arrowhead Stadium. (Chris Neal/The Topeka Capital-Journal)
What remains to be seen is how the Chiefs deploy that lineup.
Both Reid and co-offensive coordinator Brad Childress suggested running back Jamaal Charles would not necessarily serve as the exclusive feature back.
“All those guys have things that they do differently,” Childress said about the team’s running backs. “If we deem they do better than others, whether it’s looking at a zone or an outside play or it’s a screen, we’ll kind of sprinkle him in where we feel like he’s the most effective and kind of work him back into the process.”
Cornerback Phillip Gaines also participated fully in the practice this week. That suggests the Chiefs will return to a base secondary that includes Gaines, Marcus Peters and Steven Nelson as the primary cornerbacks with rookie D.J. White in a backup role.
The lineup at offensive line appears less clear. Zach Fulton has started each of the last three games due to injuries. Rookie guard Parker Ehinger appears to be fully recovered from both a concussion and foot injuries.
The Oakland Raiders will lineup without two starter are on offense: running back Latavius Murray (toe) and right tackle Menelik Watson. Murray also missed Oakland’s 34-31 win over San Diego last week.
Friday’s injury report as released by the Chiefs:
OAKLAND RAIDERS
OUT: RB Latavius Murray, T Menelik Watson and G/T Vadal Alexander
QUESTIONABLE: S Nate Allen, G/C Jon Feliciano, RB Taiwan Jones, T Matt McCants, LB Malcolm Smith and TE Clive Walford
Practice report
Did not participate in practice: RB Latavius Murray (toe), T Menelik Watson (calf) and G/T Vadal Alexander (ankle)
Limited participation: S Nate Allen (quad), G/C Jon Feliciano (calf), RB Taiwan Jones (knee), T Matt McCants (knee), LB Malcolm Smith (quad) and TE Clive Walford (knee)
Full participation:
KANSAS CITY CHIEFS
OUT: None
QUESTIONABLE: None
Practice report
Did not participate in practice: Tamba Hali (knee)
Limited participation: None
Full participation: LB Sio Moore (illness), RB Knile Davis (concussion), CB Phillip Gaines (knee), OL Jah Reid (knee) and RB Charcandrick West (ankle)
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Matt Derrick is the lead beat writer for ChiefsDigest.com and the Topeka Capital-Journal. Use the contact page to reach him or find him on Twitter: @MattDerrick.
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