OAKLAND -- Raiders left guard Kelechi Osemele wasn’t quite healthy enough to play Sunday against the Indianapolis Colts.
Reggie Nelson and Rashaan Melvin are healthy. Doesn't matter -- they won’t see the field in this contest at the Coliseum.
Both veteran defensive backs were healthy scratches as the team makes way for younger players.
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Sitting those two also will give more work to safety Karl Joseph and cornerback Gareon Conley, who are being actively shopped leading into Tuesday’s NFL trade deadline.
Joseph hasn’t played since Week 3 because a hamstring injury, and Conley was benched in a Week 6 loss to the Seattle Seahawks. Both players were coveted first-round draft picks who haven’t fit in well with coordinator Paul Guenther’s defense.
The Raiders are looking to move Joseph, but they're reportedly expecting significant compensation for Conley.
NFL
Rookie cornerback Nick Nelson, a fourth-round pick, also will see defensive action for the first time this season.
Nelson’s scratch snaps a streak of 82 consecutive regular-season games played. Melvin had been demoted out of the Raiders' starting lineup, and voiced his frustrations on Twitter after the Seahawks loss. Gruden clapped back in a press conference, seemingly creating a rift between player and coach.
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Starting linebacker Emmanuel Lamur also is inactive, meaning practice-squad promotion Jason Cabinda should see some work against the Colts.
In addition, receiver Marcell Ateman, offensive lineman Justin Murray and edge rusher Shilique Calhoun also were inactive.