ALAMEDA – Raiders cornerback Sean Smith had his left shoulder wrapped tight in a harness on Thursday morning, and tested his ailing joint with added protection in an afternoon practice.
Smith hurt himself on the second snap of Sunday’s game at Tampa Bay and did not return, putting his playing status for a Week 9 contest versus Denver into question.
His participation in Thursday’s practice doesn’t resolve it. He participated in individual drills during open portions of practice, though the first unit still belonged to DJ Hayden, TJ Carrie and David Amerson in the early going.
The Raiders certainly hope Smith can return to play Denver’s big outside receivers in Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders, though it’s unknown at this time whether that will happen.