The Oakland Raiders know that they won't have Darren McFadden at their disposal on Thursday night. But they have even more significant losses in the defensive backfield, which could make all the difference against the potent San Diego Chargers offense.
Cornerback Lito Sheppard is going to start alongside Stanford Routt, reports Vittorio Tafur of the San Francisco Chronicle. Sheppard was signed last week by the Raiders, but has been bouncing around the league lately and just hasn't returned to the Pro Bowl form he flashed early in his career. However, the Raiders have precious little cornerback depth, as both Chris Johnson and DeMarcus Van Dyke have been ruled out for Thursday's game.
This mean it's going to be Sheppard's job to contain one side of the field against the Chargers pass attack, and Phillip Rivers will likely be picking on him early and often. Keep that in mind if you have the Raiders defense this week on your fantasy team.
Here's a list of Raiders and Chargers injuries.
Oakland Raiders Injury Report
OUT: QB Jason Campbell (collarbone), CB Chris Johnson (groin, hamstring), RB Darren McFadden (foot), CB DeMarcus Van Dyke (hamstring)
QUESTIONABLE: T Khalif Barnes (shoulder), CB Chimdi Chekwa (hamstring), S Michael Huff (ankle), K Sebastian Janikowski (left hamstring), LB Rolando McClain (ankle), S Michael Mitchell (ankle), S Chinedum Ndukwe (knee), C Samson Satele (knee), DT Richard Seymour (ankle)
PROBABLE: RB Rock Cartwright (calf), S Matt Giordano (neck), QB Carson Palmer (quadricep), RB Marcel Reece (shoulder)
San Diego Chargers Injury Report
OUT: DE Luis Castillo (tibia), G Kris Dielman (concussion)
DOUBTFUL: WR Malcom Floyd (hip), LB Shaun Phillips (foot)
PROBABLE: LB Antwan Barnes (calf), LB Donald Butler (illness), LB Na'il Diggs (knee), WR Richard Goodman (groin), S Steve Gregory (thigh), RB Ryan Mathews (groin), LB Takeo Spikes (biceps)
For more on the Raiders, head to Silver and Black Pride. For more on the Chargers, check out Bolts from the Blue.