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Weekend mail call:

MD Ellis from Marysville, Calif., wants to know if the Oakland Raiders could trade a receiver such as Louis Murphy because of fifth-round pick Juron Criner.

Bill Williamson: Perhaps late in the preseason, something could happen since Murphy is a free agent after next season. But I think the most likely situation is Oakland will keep all of their young receivers and see how it develops. It’s a good, solid group. But it needs some players to stand out, so the Raiders may be better off keeping everyone and seeing how it plays out.

Jon from Fort Dodge, Iowa wants to know if I think the Denver Broncos have a realistic chance to make the Super Bowl.

BW: If Peyton Manning's neck issues are behind him, I think Denver has a chance to be very competitive and they should be a fairly strong team. But there are more talented teams in the AFC West and Denver has the second toughest schedule in the NFL. For Denver to get to the Super Bowl it will need its defense to continue to make huge strides, have great health and some good fortune.

Kurt from Seattle wants to know what I think about Kansas City Chiefs receivers coach Nick Sirianni.

BW: Sirianni has been highly regarded in Kansas City. He was the offensive quality control coach for the past three years. He helped in several different areas and he was credited for helping Matt Cassel during his strong season in 2010. I think Sirianni certainly can be a coach to look for as an offensive coordinator candidate in the coming seasons.

Continuing our 2012 AFC position-by-position rankings, here are the receivers. It’s a young, fairly unproven group that lost top players Vincent Jackson and Brandon Lloyd in the past year:

1. Dwayne Bowe, Kansas City: With Jackson gone, Bowe, who received the franchise tag by the Chiefs this offseason, is the clear top receiver in the division.

2. Malcom Floyd, San Diego: Floyd is good, but he probably wouldn’t be ranked this high in most divisions. If he can stay healthy, he can be a star.

3. Darrius Heyward-Bey, Oakland: I have a lot of respect for Heyward-Bey for taking a big step during the 2011 season. He still is not perfect and he has to prove he can be a consistent player, but he has a chance.

4. Demaryius Thomas, Denver: I bet Thomas will be ranked at least No. 2 on this list next year. The sky is the limit.

5. Eric Decker, Denver: Peyton Manning is already talking him up. You know what that means -- lots of catches.

6. Denarius Moore, Oakland: Moore showed flashes as a rookie and he has star potential. He will be given a chance to shine.

7. Robert Meachem, San Diego: Meachem is not as good as Jackson was, but he fits the Chargers’ vertical offense and he will make his presence felt.

8. Jon Baldwin, Kansas City: Baldwin has large potential and he easily could be in the top three on this list next year. He has to show he’s ready for the challenge.

9. Jacoby Ford, Oakland: I’m a big Ford fan, but his health and the presence of Heyward-Bey and Moore may make him a third option.

10. Vincent Brown, San Diego: The Chargers love this kid. Expect nice, big numbers this year.

11. Steve Breaston, Kansas City: He’s a solid, steady receiver who can help his team win.

12. Andre Caldwell, Denver: He will be interesting to watch. The Broncos think this free-agent pickup could make his presence felt.

13. Louis Murphy, Oakland: Murphy can’t stay healthy and other receivers may have bypassed him. But he’s a pro who knows how to come up with the big catch.

14. Eddie Royal, San Diego: The former Denver receiver will be given a chance to shine in the Chargers’ rotation.

15. Devon Wylie, Kansas City: This is a projection pick. The Chiefs love him and think he can come in and make some catches as a fourth-round pick.

I won’t make it a habit to disagree with Jerry Rice about the wide receiver position. I think it makes good sense to defer to the greatest receiver of all-time on the subject.

However, on NFL Live on Tuesday, the ESPN analyst said something I can’t be on board with -- Terrell Owens would fit in with the Oakland Raiders.

Asked if he thought Owens would fit in with an NFL team, Rice said he thought the Raiders would be a fit because they could use a veteran to go along with their several young receivers.

Adding fuel to the possibility, of course, is Owens is friends and former teammates with Oakland quarterback Carson Palmer. Owens worked out with Palmer and some Oakland receivers this offseason.

Still, I don’t like the fit.

The Raiders are going in a new direction in leadership and I think a player like Owens would not be a good addition to the locker room to start the Reggie McKenzie-Dennis Allen era. Owens can be a distraction. The Raiders don’t need any distractions.

Plus, Owens is 38 and he did not play in the NFL in 2011. Where’s the appeal here?

Rice is right that Oakland’s receiving crew is young. But these players need to play and develop. Having Owens taking away repetitions from the likes of Darrius Heyward-Bey, Denarius Moore, Jacoby Ford, Louis Murphy and rookie Juron Criner just doesn’t make sense to me.

Again, it’s not wise to argue the reviver position with Jerry Rice. But I think it would be less wise for Oakland to pursue Owens.

The Oakland Raiders have one of the most interesting receiver situations in the NFL.

They have several talented players but none who have completely proven themselves. Yet, the unit looked solid enough where they can let some players separate themselves. Still, the Raiders added an intriguing player to the mix when they drafted Arizona’s Juron Criner with the No. 168 pick in the fifth round.

I like this pick a lot.

Criner likely would have never been drafted by the Raiders in the past. He is not a speed demon. Al Davis would have seen that 4.7 speed and thrown Criner’s game tape in the garbage.

But he is a solid football player. He is 6-3, 220 pounds and he’s pretty polished. He has a chance to develop into a good NFL player. He is not a sure thing, but he has good ball skills and he always gives a full effort.

I think the new Oakland régime will throw him in the mix with the likes of Darrius Heyward-Bey, Denarius Moore, Jacoby Ford and Louis Murphy and let these young players develop.

Yes, it’s a bit of a luxury pick. At the very least, Criner could be a helpful bottom-of-the rotation possession guy, but I wouldn’t be shocked if he offers more value than that.

There has been a lot of talk this offseason that the Oakland Raiders should try to add a No. 1 receiver in free agency.

There has been talk that Oakland will make a run at New Orleans' Marques Colston, who will be one of the top free-agent receivers available. It is a deep receiver class that also may include Kansas City’s Dwayne Bowe and San Diego’s Vincent Jackson. So, Oakland will have some options if it wants to get into the receiver game in free agency.

While adding a player of Colston’s caliber would certainly help any offense, I don’t think the Raiders should make receiver a priority position.

The Raiders, who at last check were $11 million over the salary cap and one of four teams that still has to get under the cap, will eventually get under the cap. But don’t expect them to be able to be one of the NFL’s biggest spenders. That means Oakland must be prudent in its spending and address the defense first. There is immediate help needed at cornerback and perhaps at linebacker and at safety.

As appealing as adding a big-name receiver may be, the Raiders aren’t in horrible shape at the position. Yes, they do not have a legitimate No. 1 receiver on the roster. But they perhaps have one in the making.

Darrius Heyward-Bey, the No. 7 overall pick of the 2009 draft, made major strides in 2011. After catching a pitiful 35 passes in his first 26 games, Heyward-Bey broke out for 64 catches and 975 yards in 2011. Yes, he is still somewhat inconsistent. But Heyward-Bey deserves a chance to show what he can do in 2012.

There is also 2011 fifth-round pick Denarius Moore. He had 35 catches last season and made some special plays.

I think having Heyward-Bey and Moore as the starters in 2012 is a pretty good start, especially considering the presence of the dynamic, but small Jacoby Ford and the reliable Louis Murphy. The Raiders will probably let former top prospect Chaz Schilens -- whose career has been marred by numerous injuries -- walk in free agency.

A core of Heyward-Bey, Moore, Ford and Murphy (I’m sure other role players will be added) will suffice this season. The Raiders’ offseason must concentrate on defense. Adding a receiver is a luxury that can become a priority in 2013 if either Heyward-Bey and/or Moore fail to progress.

» NFC Wrap-ups: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Arrow indicates direction team is trending.

Final Power Ranking: 17
Preseason Power Ranking: 22

Biggest surprise: The Raiders’ young receivers emerged. The group is a bright spot of the team and will be a strong building block for the future. Quarterback Carson Palmer, 32, may have his flaws, but he still has a big arm and the Raiders can make some plays in the passing game. Darrius Heyward-Bey, the No. 7 overall pick in 2009, is one of the most improved players in the NFL. He had 64 catches for 975 yards this season. He had 35 catches in his first 26 NFL games. Add fabulous rookie Denarius Moore, Jacoby Ford and Louis Murphy, and this is one of the best young receiving crews in the league.

Biggest disappointment: Poor defensive play. The Raiders have one of the more perplexing defenses in the NFL. The unit has plenty of talent, but they didn’t play well together. Oakland gave up way too many big plays on defense. It ranked near the bottom of the league in several defensive statistics and faltered down the stretch, including Sunday in a home loss to San Diego in a game in which the Raiders could have clinched the division title. It will not be a shock if defensive coordinator Chuck Bresnahan is sent packing. Oakland also could consider becoming a 3-4 defense.

Biggest need: There is a lot of talent on this team. There are areas where improvement is needed, including cornerback, linebacker and on the offensive line. I’d say a top cornerback would be the Raiders’ biggest need, although safety Michael Huff is reportedly moving to cornerback. They missed Nnamdi Asomugha, who signed with Philadelphia as a free agent. Stanford Routt is a nice player, but he’s not a top-flight No. 1 cornerback. If Huff does move, safety becomes a big need. The Raiders will likely have to address most of their needs through free agency, since they don’t have many draft picks.

Team MVP: Kicker Sebastian Janikowski. There were some nice performances by many Raiders this season, but Janikowski was dominant. He has the strongest leg in the league and he has become deadly accurate. He is a true weapon. Janikowski tied an NFL record with a 63-yard field goal in Week 1. He made 31 of 35 field goal attempts and made the Pro Bowl for the first time in his 12-year career.

What will the future leadership look like?: Much of the offseason will be dedicated to regrouping the front office after the death of owner Al Davis. He died at the age of 82 on Oct. 8. Now that the season is over, Oakland can move on. There have been plenty of reports linking the Raiders to general manager candidates, including Reggie McKenzie and Eliot Wolf of Green Bay. Sunday, in an angry postgame press conference, Oakland coach Hue Jackson vowed to take a bigger role in the organization. That could turn off potential general managers. Jackson is expected to have his share of power, but some of the top front-office candidates may not be interested in sharing power with a young coach.

OAKLAND -- The Raiders are playing without defensive end Matt Shaughnessy, cornerback Chris Johnson, fullback Marcel Reece and special-teams ace Rock Cartwright.

Manase Tonga will start for Reece, rookie DeMarcus Van Dyke will play for Johnson. Jarvis Moss will start for Shaughnessy. Receiver Louis Murphy is active. It will be his first game since he suffered a sports hernia in training camp.

Rookie quarterback Terrelle Pryor is still listed as a roster exemption after his five-game NFL suspension ended. The Raiders will likely activate him Monday.

Meanwhile, here are some highlights from ESPN’s "Sunday NFL Countdown," in which the 3-2 Raiders were a topic:

Tom Jackson: “I’m buying ‘em because they are built in the image of Al Davis.”

Merril Hoge: “The Raiders didn’t get the memo -- that this is a passing league. They didn’t get that memo because they run the football on the perimeter better than anybody.”

Bill Parcells: “If they could cut down a little on that recklessness, cut those penalties down, they’re going to go right to the top of that discipline index, and that usually means winning.”

Whether Darrius Heyward-Bey will ever live up to his lofty draft status or whether he even becomes a consistently reliable player is still to be determined.

At least, the man who took an overwhelmingly amount of heat (including from this writer) for taking Heyward-Bey with the No. 7 overall pick of the 2009 draft lived to see the Oakland Raiders receiver make some strides.

In the final game he witnessed the Raiders play, Al Davis watched Heyward-Bey be a bright spot for the Raiders in a Week 4 loss to New England. While perhaps honoring the man who drafted him, Heyward-Bey enjoyed his career highlight in Week 5, the day after Davis died at the age of 82.

Heyward-Bey had a team-high seven catches for 99 yards in the Raiders’ 25-20 win at Houston, which goes down as one of the greatest regular-season moments in team history. Heyward-Bey put Oakland back in the game late in the second quarter when he scored on a 34-yard touchdown after showing strong tackle-breaking ability.

It was fitting that Heyward-Bey player such a major role in the Raiders’ first win without Davis. Heyward-Bey was emotional after the game in interviews and talked about the importance of wearing the Silver and Black. The day Davis died, Heyward-Bey tweeted a thank you to Davis for changing his life.

However, the pairing wasn’t initially easy for either man.

The Maryland product was considered a late first-round or second-round prospect prior to the draft. He had good size and stunning speed. Yet, he wasn’t overly productive in college and there were questions about his hands. Still, Davis was -- as he often was -- enamored with Heyward-Bey’s speed. Davis shocked the NFL by taking Heyward-Bey with the No. 7 pick. Most scouts thought Texas Tech’s Michael Crabtree was the best all-around receiving prospect. He went three selections later to San Francisco.

Heyward-Bey didn’t do himself any favors when he dropped several passes in his first NFL minicamp. The drops continued in training camp and then in the season. Heyward-Bey had some positive moments in his first two NFL seasons, but the drops and inconsistency overpowered the bright spots.

Heyward-Bey had only 35 catches in his first 26 games.

After JaMarcus Russell -- the No. 1 pick of the 2007 draft -- busted, Davis (who scored with several late draft picks in recent years) received criticism for blowing another top pick in the form of Heyward-Bey.

Yet, Davis never wavered on Heyward-Bey. Despite several other promising young receivers on the roster, Heyward-Bey continued to get plenty of chances in his third year. It is paying off. He has 16 catches this season. But the key is his 11 catches in the past two games.

He looks much more confident and he plays very physically. The drops are decreasing.

“I keep telling you guys, Darrius is rising,” Raiders coach Hue Jackson told reporters after the Houston game. “I’m very happy for Darrius.”

Heyward-Bey will have to complete this season with several more quality games before he is considered a player who has a clear future. But he's showing that it's worth the Raiders' time to continue to develop him. The Raiders are loaded with intriguing talent at receiver, so Heyward-Bey’s development will only make this offense more difficult to defend.

He also is helping his legacy in the 2009 draft class. Overall, that year’s draft is considered to be poor. Several second- and third-round picks already have been cut by their drafting team, and several first-round picks (including every other AFC West top-round pick: Kansas City’s Tyson Jackson, Denver’s Knowshon Moreno and Robert Ayers and San Diego’s Larry English) have yet to develop. The No. 11 overall pick, Aaron Maybin of Buffalo, already has been cut. Just this week, the Raiders acquired linebacker Aaron Curry -- the No. 4 pick in that draft -- from Seattle for a seventh-round pick in 2012 and a conditional 2013 pick.

Yet, some good receivers were taken in that draft. Taken after Heyward-Bey and Crabtree (he has had a slow start to this season, but he does have 114 catches in 31 games compared with Heyward-Bey’s 51 catches in 30 games) in the first round were Philadelphia’s Jeremy Maclin, Minnesota’s Percy Harvin, the Giants’ Hakeem Nicks and Tennessee’s Kenny Britt. Other notable receivers taken in that draft were Pittsburgh’s Mike Wallace (third), the Jaguars’ Mike Thomas (fourth), Oakland’s Louis Murphy (fourth), the Colts’ Austin Collie (fourth) and the Bears’ Johnny Knox (fifth).

Matt Williamson of Scouts Inc. is not sure if Heyward-Bey is in the league of most of those players. Yet, Williamson sees improvements being made.

“He is certainly getting better,” Williamson said. “His routes are crisper and more reliable and his hands are also more reliable. The speed is obvious -- and it is still his greatest asset.”

The Raiders hope to see Heyward-Bey continue to work and become an overall asset -- and become a positive part of Davis’ drafting legacy.

The following are some highlights of our AFC West chat, which was held earlier Thursday:

Denver

BG from Seattle: I was too busy celebrating the benching of Kyle Orton to notice that Von Miller was benched during the last game. Any insights to why he was benched?

Bill Williamson: He played in passing situations, but other players were playing in base, so yeah, he was replaced. I don't think it is a major deal yet. Now, if it continues, it will be an issue. But Miller is dominant as a pass-rusher and the team is happy with his overall play thus far. He's just a rookie trying to feel his way. Setbacks happen. The key is addressing it and improving.

Kansas City

Dante from Minny: Does Jackie Battle get a chance to be a sustaining runner for KC?

BW: I think he will get the chance for the rest of the season. He has given the Chiefs a much-needed spark in the aftermath of Jamaal Charles' injury. He will continue to get that chance.

Oakland

Angelo from San Antonio, Texas: Hey BW, read your blog everyday. I was wondering what your take on Louis Murphy's role for the Raiders now that DHB, Moore, Hagan, and Schilens have proven to be good receivers?

BW: Thanks, Angelo, don't forget Ford, he's a stud. I think there will be a place for Murphy. He is a solid possession guy who is reliable. I think the Raiders' receiving group is a work in progress as far as who will end up playing a lot. But Murphy can help this team.

San Diego:

Jefffree from San Diego, CA.: What's up with Jordan Todman and Vincent Brown? Been anxious to see what they could do in the field.

BW: They are youngsters learning the system. I wouldn't write these guys off. The Chargers' roster is stacked, so these guys are depth at this point, for this season.

Al Davis knew in recent years that he would not be around forever. Rebuilding his beloved Oakland Raiders was his lone mission.

With his health declining steadily, Davis worked diligently at reconstructing his franchise. That was a primary reason why he cut JaMarcus Russell –- the No. 1 overall pick in 2007 –- in May 2010. In a meeting to tell Russell he was being cut, Davis told the quarterback he wished he could devote several years to Russell’s development, but he simply didn’t have time.

Davis wanted to build a Super Bowl winner right away.

The Raiders aren’t quite there. In the final game he witnessed his team play, this past Sunday, the Raiders were outclassed by a better New England team. However, the Raiders are going in the right direction.

In his final couple of years, Davis showed he could still be a top evaluator.

Yes, he had some major draft, free-agent and trade whiffs in the past decade. Davis’s decision-making was the reason the Raiders were bottom feeders for the past decade. That’s undeniable.

However, his decision-making of recent years is the reason the Raiders are considered a team on the rise. Also, undeniable.

Davis’ last great call of his life may be Denarius Moore. He could forever be known as Davis’ last gift to the Raiders.

Davis drafted Moore in the fifth round this year out of Tennessee. He has quickly developed into a top receiver for the Raiders and draft gurus are admitting Moore was one who got lost in the shuffle. Davis also scored in the fourth round last year with explosive receiver Jacoby Ford. Other mid- or late-round finds include tackle Jared Veldheer, defensive ends Matt Shaughnessy and Trevor Scott, safety Tyvon Branch and receiver Louis Murphy.

Davis also deserves credit for making Hue Jackson a head coach. Jackson is changing the culture in Oakland and he is intent on seeing through Davis’ last wishes of making the Raiders a winner again.

If the Raiders do win their fourth Super Bowl title in the foreseeable future, Davis’ fingerprints will be on the Lombardi Trophy. Just like the first three.

The Oakland Raiders have an interesting situation brewing at receiver.

They are finally all healthy.

Oakland’s receiving crew has been a work in progress for years. Thanks to some nice mid-round draft picks, Oakland now has a potentially strong group of receivers. Now that Louis Murphy is back from a sports hernia that kept him out nearly two months, it is a crowded group. Let’s look at Oakland’s receivers, in alphabetical order, and examine what we should expect this season:

Jacoby Ford

Known for: He was a steal in the fourth round in 2010. He is an explosive playmaker.

2011 stats: Three catches, 22 yards, no touchdowns.

Comment: He missed time with a hamstring injury. Now that Ford is healthy, I think he has a chance to be in the top of the rotation.

How I rank him: 2

Derek Hagan

Known for: He is a journeyman with a limited reputation in the NFL.

2011 stats: 10 catches, 101 yards, no touchdowns.

Comment: He is steady and has good hands. He moves the chains. He’s good injury insurance.

How I rank him: 6

Darrius Heyward-Bey

Known for: The No. 7 overall pick in 2009 has dealt with hands issues and he hasn’t lived up to the Raiders’ expectations.

2011 stats: Nine catches, 164 yards, no touchdowns.

Comment: He is coming off his best NFL game. If he continues to work on his hands, he has a chance to help this team. I think others should be higher in the rotation because of their consistency.

How I rank him: 5

Denarius Moore

Known for: The steal of the 2011 draft. The fifth-round pick has been stellar.

2011 stats: 12 catches, 199 yards, two touchdowns.

Comment: Oakland should make Moore a definite starter and watch him shine. He has the highest ceiling of this group.

How I rank him: 1

Louis Murphy

Known for: The fourth-round pick in 2009 was the Raiders’ steadiest receiver in his first two NFL seasons.

2011 stats: He hasn’t played.

Comment: He is a steady, polished player. There is always room for a player like Murphy.

How I rank him: 3

Chaz Schilens

Known for: He is a talented player, who can’t stay healthy.

2011 stats: Five catches, 40 yards, no touchdowns.

Comment: Schilens has been bypassed by other players. He has a chance to be a top player, but he must stay healthy.

How I rank him: 4

Conclusion: There is a ton of potential here. Oakland coach Hue Jackson will be challenged to find the right rotation. In the end, it’s a nice problem for Jackson to have.

Oakland receiver Louis Murphy is practicing for the first time in almost two months. He’s been out with a sports hernia.

Murphy has been a starter for Oakland. His return is a boost to Oakland's talented, yet crowded receiving corps. It will be interesting to see how the Raiders rotate receivers at Houston on Sunday.

The Kansas City Star looks at the unusual methods Chiefs coach Todd Haley takes to help his players succeed.

Oakland running back Darren McFadden and San Diego quarterback Philip Rivers are both featured on ESPN.com’s MVP Watch this week. Makes sense to me.

Denver linebacker Von Miller is still atop ESPN.com’s Rookie Watch. He has four sacks in four games. Yes, it’s been a pretty good start for the No. 2 overall pick.

The Chiefs signed running back Shaun Draughn to the practice squad. He was previously with Washington this summer. To make room, offensive lineman Butch Lewis was cut from the practice squad.

Sterling Moore, who was a star in training camp for Oakland, has been signed to New England’s practice squad. There was a lot of talk that Moore would make Oakland’s 53-man roster. In the end, the team cut him from the practice squad. I know Moore created excitement during the summer, but I don’t think Oakland fans should be bummed about this. If the Raiders thought he could help, he’d be in the program.

San Diego tight end Antonio Gates is not expected to play against Miami, because of a lingering foot injury that kept him out of six games last season and last week’s game. I could see San Diego holding Gates out until after its Oct. 16 bye. Gates will be replaced by veteran Randy McMichael.

Cornerback Quentin Jammer is also doubtful. He suffered a hamstring injury last week. Promising rookie Marcus Gilchrist is expected to play for Jammer against Miami on Sunday.

The battered Chargers listed starting receivers Vincent Jackson (abdomen) and Malcom Floyd (groin) as questionable. But they both practiced fully Friday, so that is a good sign they will play Sunday. Running back Ryan Mathews (foot) and rookie defensive end Corey Liuget (ankle) are both probable after they both practiced fully Friday.

The Denver Broncos do not know if they will have the services of two key defensive players Sunday at Green Bay.

Both cornerback Champ Bailey (hamstring) and defensive end Elvis Dumervil (shoulder) have been listed as questionable on the injury report. Neither has been on the field since Week 1, and both were limited all week in practice.

Denver’s defense -- which was ranked No. 32 last season -- is ranked No. 16 this season. Getting Bailey and Dumervil back should only improve the Broncos.

Running back Knowshon Moreno is listed as probable. He has missed the past two games with a hamstring injury. He’ll likely back up Willis McGahee on Sunday while he shakes off the rust.

In Oakland, safety Michael Huff (concussion), defensive end Matt Shaughnessy (shoulder) and fullback Marcel Reece (ankle) are all questionable to play against New England on Sunday. All three are key cogs for the Raiders. Cornerback Chris Johnson (hamstring) and receiver Louis Murphy (sports hernia) are out, as expected. Receiver Jacoby Ford (hamstring) is listed as questionable, but he is expected to play for the first time since Week 1.

There are several Oakland players listed as probable, but they are all expected to play.

In Kansas City, cornerback Brandon Flowers (ankle) and safety Jon McGraw (shin) are questionable to play against visiting Minnesota on Sunday. They were both limited all week in practice. Rookie first-round pick Jon Baldwin is out. He has been limited in practice the past two weeks. He suffered a thumb injury in a reported fight with teammate Thomas Jones six weeks ago. It seems like Baldwin will play at some point, but you have to wonder how long it will take him to catch up when he does hit the field.

A Wednesday injury look around the AFC West:

Denver Broncos: Cornerback Champ Bailey was limited in practice Wednesday. He missed the past two games with a hamstring injury. Defensive end Elvis Dumervil was also limited with a shoulder injury. He, too, missed the past two games. Running back Knowshon Moreno (hamstring) and linebacker D.J. Williams (elbow) both practiced fully.

Kansas City Chiefs: Cornerback Brandon Flowers was limited with an ankle injury he suffered Sunday at San Diego. Receiver Jon Baldwin was limited for the fourth straight practice. He reportedly suffered a thumb injury in a fight with teammate Thomas Jones. It’s promising that Baldwin is working some, but until he practices fully, you must wonder when will he be able to make his NFL debut. The first-round pick is nearly six weeks behind.

Oakland Raiders: The Raiders received good news when receiver Jacoby Ford re-joined practice Wednesday. He has been out for the past two weeks with a hamstring injury. His presence should only make a potent offense even more potent. Safeties Michael Huff and Mike Mitchell were also back at practice. Cornerback Chris Johnson and receiver Louis Murphy remain out, and their chances of playing at New England may be affected.

San Diego Chargers: The San Diego Union Tribune reported that cornerback Quentin Jammer, tight end Antonio Gates, receiver Vincent Jackson and receiver Malcom Floyd were all not practicing. None of this news is surprising. The Chargers often keep players who are banged up out of practice early in the week. We will have to monitor each player’s progress later in the week.

The Denver Broncos and the Oakland Raiders both saw some key players make progress toward getting back to the field; still they are also both missing some important pieces.

Paramount for Denver is that star cornerback Champ Bailey has not practiced after injuring his hamstring in Week 1 against Oakland. Bailey didn’t play against Cincinnati on Sunday.

Denver did get some good injury news. Defensive end Elvis Dumervil (shoulder), linebacker D.J. Williams (elbow), running back Knowshon Moreno (hamstring) and receiver Brandon Lloyd (groin) all practiced on a limited basis. There is hope they could all play Sunday at Tennessee. Williams has been out since the preseason and Dumervil, Moreno and Lloyd all missed the win over the Bengals.

In Oakland, receiver Jacoby Ford is out after injuring his hamstring in Week 1 at Denver. He left the game and hasn’t practiced or played since. With Denarius Moore coming off a big game at Buffalo, Ford could be a third receiver when he returns.

Receiver Louis Murphy, a starter for his first two seasons, is still not practicing. He’s been out since mid-August with a sports hernia. He had targeted Sunday’s game against the Jets for his return, but it will be delayed.

Starting cornerback Chris Johnson wasn’t practicing Wednesday and neither was reserve safety Mike Mitchell. Mitchell has been out for several weeks with a knee injury.

However, starting tight end Kevin Boss was back at practice and perhaps he will play for the first time in month after being shelved with a knee injury. Also, receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey returned to practice after missing Sunday’s wild game at Buffalo.