When the Raiders take the field in Cincinnati on Sunday, they will have a new starting center. Regular center Andre James has been OUTLAILED due to an ankle injury, meaning Jackson Powers-Johnson will move from left guard to center.

“We’ve had Jackson there the last couple days, we’re going to leave him there and let the guys stay put,” Pierce said of the center position. “We’ve shuffled the Oline quite a bit now due to injuries, so we’re doing our best to keep some continuity there and let the guys who’ve been practicing all week play where they’ve been practicing.”

Powers-Johnson was selected by the Raiders with the 44th overall pick in the second round of this year’s draft out of Oregon.

This past season, JPJ won the Rimington Award for the Ducks as the best center in the country. But the Raiders initially needed him at guard because they had James at center.

Currently, the Raiders have several linemen with center experience, including the two linemen who could start at each guard spot on Sunday: Cody Whitehair and Dylan Parham. However, Whitehair’s days at center are long gone and most of Parham’s experience is on hold.

JPJ stepped in at center for the final 16 snaps in last Sunday’s game against the Chiefs when James suffered the ankle injury and the team will remain with him at least this week and perhaps longer depending on James’ injury recovery timeline and how well JPJ is holding up. his own at the position.