No sooner than I openly expressed my opinion on how the Raiders should handle Rolando McClain the team has announced his reinstatement on one condition. McClain is back on the 53-man roster but whether or not he’s active for Sunday action depends on what he and head coach Dennis Allen discuss in the coming days.

Currently Coach Allen is back in Texas dealing with his personal tragedy endured last week. Once Allen returns McClain’s fate will be decided.

One man whose fate was sealed two weeks ago is now no longer a Raider.

Cornerback Ron Bartell was released in order to make room for McClain on the roster. Bartell’s signing was always a gamble as the veteran corner that arrived with injury concerns. Those concerns surfaced almost immediately as Bartell suffered a broken shoulder in his first game as a Raider.

By the time Bartell was back in the starting lineup it was painfully obvious that his health wasn’t the only concern. Bartell’s coverage skills have eroded to the point that he was benched two weeks ago after being abused on a simple go route by Browns rookie receiver Josh Gordon.

This is also symbolizes Reggie McKenzie rolling snake eyes with the two veteran corners he signed this offseason. With no case at his disposal McKenzie had to seek out bargains in the free agent market. Both Bartell and Shawntae Spencer inked one year contracts that were more or less open auditions.

Neither man is on the active roster with Spencer on IR and Bartell now on the street.

The Raiders also released sparsely used fullback Owen Schmitt today as well promoting cornerback Chimdi Chekwa from the practice squad.

Jason O. Watson-US PRESSWIRE

The Raiders are only one week into the 2012 season and already injuries are claiming valued contributors on the roster. Ahead of tomorrow’s clash in Miami the Raiders have placed both Jacoby Ford and Ron Bartell on IR.

For Ford this marks the end of his season as was speculated once his foot surgery was announced. This marks two straight years of the same foot injury for the return specialist and playmaker from Clemson. It also signals a significant source of concern for the Silver and Black. No telling if this is going to be an ongoing issue during the course of Jacoby’s career or if he’ll bounce back after his season ending surgery.

Bartell, on the other hand, might be back as soon as the end of October if all goes well. Normally players placed on the IR are lost for the season. Under the NFL’s new rules each franchise can designate one player on a temporary IR that will be eligible to return after six weeks.

Bartell’s debut as a Raider lasted just one half as he was out after suffering a broken shoulder during the Monday Night disaster that was the loss to the Chargers.

Mark J. Rebilas-US PRESSWIRE

The football gods are clearly not happy with the Oakland Raiders. All summer long we knew that depth was going to be the biggest hurdle in Dennis Allen’s quest for a playoff birth. Well, as fate would have it the depth of Oakland’s roster is getting a serious test only one week into the 2012 season.

Ron Bartell made it through only one half of football during his Silver and Black debut and odds are he won’t get a chance to suit up again for at least a month. An MRI revealed that Bartell has a broken left shoulder blade that will keep him out of action for several weeks.

As if Reggie McKenzie didn’t already have reason to furiously scour the waiver wire for another receiver in lieu of Jacoby Ford’s surgery now he can add a new corner back to his discount shopping list. Of course the irony is McKenzie rid his roster of both Louis Murphy and DeMarcus Van Dyke. I bet he’d like to have at least one of those guys back at this point.

For Bartell this has to be disappointing. The veteran corner missed most all of last season after suffering a neck injury. This was supposed to be a bounce back year for Bartell offering a chance to extend his pro career. Instead it could be his final opportunity to start depending on how things shape up.

Even more disconcerting is that Jon Condo could miss Sunday’s game in Miami after suffering a concussion in the season opener. We already know how the Travis Goethel experiment went so it’s within reason that McKenzie could add a long snapper to his wish list too. Either that or just go for it on 4^th down every time.