Gabe Jackson heads to IR, Raiders offensive line facing injury crisis

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The Raiders' offensive line is pretty banged up, and won’t get right before season’s end. That was guaranteed when Gabe Jackson was placed on injured reserve Tuesday afternoon with an elbow injury.

The standout right guard battled an ankle injury all year, but was felled by an elbow problem during a Week 14 win over the Pittsburgh Steelers. He got hurt during the game but refused to come out, finishing the game-winning drive in extreme pain.

Jackson would not play again. He was questionable before Sunday’s loss in Cincinnati, but couldn’t go against the Bengals.

“Gabe Jackson is suffering from a very legitimate elbow injury and it’s hard to block people when you can’t extend your arm,” coach Jon Gruden said Monday, a day before the transaction. "We’re concerned, obviously.”

The Raiders are also concerned about left guard Kelechi Osemele’s toe, which has kept him out the last two games.

Jon Feliciano is already on IR with a calf injury, leaving the Raiders in trouble on the inside.

Denzelle Good is now the starting right guard, and will play Monday against the Denver Broncos after allowing five quarterback hurries the week prior. Chaz Green will step in again if Osemele can’t go. He struggled mightily against the Bengals, giving up three sacks to Geno Atkins.

This Raiders offensive line has fallen on hard times after not long ago being considered among the NFL's best. They now have two rookies starting at tackle, and trouble on the interior that won’t go away until the end of the season.

[RELATED: Raiders' possible Coliseum finale brings anything but Christmas cheer]

Oakland also waived veteran linebacker Emmanuel Lamur. He began the year as starting strongside linebacker, but lost his job to Marquel Lee. He rarely played after that on defense or special teams.

Speedy defensive back Rico Gafford and defensive tackle Gabe Wright were promoted from the practice squad in corresponding moves.

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