Raiders news roundup: Injury report, Week 4 captains, Tom Brady's power rankings

The Las Vegas Raiders have finally given folks in the NFL landscape something tangible to talk about. Instead of being a cesspool of irrelevance, or when actually spoken about, negativity, many have started to believe in, or at least discuss earnestly, Klint Kubiak's team after a 3-0 start to the year.

And with an increase in Raiders-related media now hitting the timeline, it can be hard to keep up with all things Silver and Black, especially the little or seemingly mundane topics. But that is what we are here for: to fill you in on what you might have missed since our mid-week update.

Below you will find news that includes, but is not limited to, the final injury report for Week 4's game between Las Vegas and the Kansas City Chiefs, the captains for that game, Brock Bowers winning a weekly award and where overlord Tom Brady had the Raiders slotted in to his power rankings.

1. Final Week 4 injury report for Raiders vs. Chiefs
2. Quick Hitters
3. What folks are saying about Raiders before Chiefs showdown
4. Best quotes from recent press conferences in Las Vegas
5. Raiders content from across the internet

Final Week 4 injury report for Raiders vs. Chiefs

Of course, the Raiders have a handful of players on injured reserve, and they just placed Jack Bech there earlier in the week. But as for Sunday's contest, barring some unexpected developments, Las Vegas should have a relatively healthy team when Kansas City steps into Allegiant Stadium.

Powers-Johnson being out is disappointing, both because he is the starting guard and because he seems to be a magnet for injuries early in his career. It will, however, give Caleb Rogers a chance to show what he can do.

O'Connell is still seemingly away from the team as he grieves his father. Stukes missed last week with a concussion but has no designation for Sunday, and banged up stars Bowers and Jeanty are healthy and ready to go for the Chiefs matchup, as of Friday, as well.

Kansas City is also remarkably healthy, with no real contributors on IR and only Simmons set to miss the game in Las Vegas. Simmons has missed each of the Chiefs' three matchups, too, so UDFA rookie Kahlil Benson should start in his place once again, which is favorable for the Raiders.

Quick Hitters

Week 4 captains

As has become typical for Kubiak, he named the team's captains for Sunday's game on Friday. And we are yet to see a repeat captain, as for Week 4, it will be Brock Bowers, Nakobe Dean and Tommy Eichenberg in center circle at the beginning of the game against the Chiefs.

Brock Bowers wins AFC Offensive Player of the Week

Hours after our Wednesday's roundup was published, Bowers was named the AFC Offensive Player of the Week for Week 3. He earned this honor after a 10-catch, 116-yard, 1-touchdown showing in the win over the New Orleans Saints. This is his first such selection in his already remarkable career.

Raiders sign Owen Wright to practice squad

Wright was signed to the practice squad to take Dare Ogunbowale's place. The 5-foot-9, 217-pound player was a UDFA in 2023 and has spent time with the Ravens and Buccaneers. In his career, he's totaled three carries for six yards and three kick returns for 73 yards, all last year in Tampa Bay.

Fun facts: He was a teammate of Raiders OT Charles Grant's at William & Mary in 2020, and he is the grandson of Washington Redskins great Brig Owens.

Raiders host two interesting players for workouts

On the same day that the team signed Wright, it worked out Jerome Ford. Clearly, Las Vegas was looking for a veteran running back to replace Ogunbowale, and Ford is the bigger name. He was once the Cleveland Browns' RB1 when Nick Chubb was injured, but is somehow still without a team.

The Raiders also worked out a punter on Friday... but not because A.J. Cole is injured or his job is at stake. Las Vegas wanted a lefty punter in the building to prepare Kansas City punter Matt Araiza's, so they worked out James Platte. The ball spins the other way off the left foot, so this is great attention to detail from special teams coordinator Joe DeCamillis.

Clelin Ferrrell cut by Dolphins

After being elevated from the practice squad for the first three weeks of the season and facing the Raiders in Week 1, the Silver and Black's No. 4 pick from the 2019 NFL Draft was cut by the Miami Dolphins following a disastrous Week 3 showing. Back to the drawing board for Ferrell.

Andre James signs with Ravens as C injuries pile in Baltimore

James, once cast off by Las Vegas and scooped up by the Chargers and Titans and subsequently discarded by them as well, has found a new NFL home: the Ravens. Baltimore is destitute at center with the offseason loss of Tyler Linderbaum and injuries to two replacements, including Ethan Pocic.

Now, they will call on James to provide some depth. Another shot for the Raiders' 2019 UDFA class member.

What folks are saying about Raiders before Chiefs showdown

Let's dignify some hot-take artists for just a second.

Chris Broussard

Hating on the Raiders is certainly one thing; fans are used to that. And to an extent, they understand the skepticism around this team because Las Vegas has been so downtrodden in recent years. But the games have to matter... apparently they don't to Broussard, though. Listen at your own risk.

Stephen A. Smith

Smith, being his boisterous self, wouldn't give any credit to Kirk Cousins for the Raiders' hot start. Instead, he rightfully praised Kubiak, but Smith's general disrespect and downplaying of the Silver and Black is sure to grind some gears. If he thinks it's too early to say they're good, why jump the gun and say that they are bad? That's not fair or consistent. But what else would you expect?

Tom Brady

Brady, in his other gig as a Fox Sports commentator, revealed his NFL power rankings after Week 3. And after their undefeated start, Brady slotted in the Raiders at a whopping No. 5. Compared to other power rankings, that's a bit high. But you have to love the confidence from the minority owner.

What's he seeing that is making him so confident?

Best quotes from recent press conferences in Las Vegas

Klint Kubiak making a statement and setting the tone but staying hungry during Wednesday's media availability:

"Do you think our players want to win? We got players that want to win. We got coaches that want to win. The whole organization's on the same page, and it's three games. It's a three-game sample size, so we have to just stay focused."

Rob Leonard during Thursday's press conference talking about his coaching philosophy and how the team has been so opportunistic with takeaways:

"You can't emphasize style of play and not let people be aggressive to what they see, and coach them with a million, 'What ifs'. You teach them the scenarios, and that's why you teach them football the strengths and weaknesses of every call, of where we're vulnerable and where you can be aggressive, and I want them to trust themselves. We're not going to play scared. We're going aggressive, not reckless. Trust your eyes."

Raiders content from across the internet

• 25 moments since 2000 that explain the highs and lows of being a Raiders fan (Just Blog Baby)

More shameless self-promo... I went deep into the vault for this one, doing my best to explain the highs and lows of being a Raiders fan through the lens of the most memorable moments since 2000. Enjoy this trip back through the millennium, folks!

• Get hyped hearing to Nakobe Dean mic'd up (Raiders)

“They can only protect one thing, the ball or their soul.”

Nakobe Dean is one of them ones.

• Are the Raiders frauds? What NFL Projection Model says about 3-0 teams (The Athletic)

Sure, the odds are low, but conventional wisdom and typical calculations don't apply to the Raiders. We are an anamoly of a franchise, and if the numbers are ever going to lie, they would lie about the Silver and Black. And games are won on grass, not in computer simulations.

Still, a fun read, I thought.

• CBS's preview of Raiders-Chiefs will have you ready to run through a brick wall (CBS)

That'll get the juices flowing. Sunday can't come fast enough.

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