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          Las Vegas Raiders' Richie Incognito on IR, out at least 3 weeks

          • Paul Gutierrez, ESPN Staff WriterSep 23, 2020, 05:36 PM ET
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              Paul Gutierrez joined NFL Nation in 2013 and serves as its Las Vegas Raiders reporter. He has a multi-platform role - writing on ESPN.com, television appearances on NFL Live and SportsCenter, and podcast and radio appearances. Before coming to ESPN, Gutierrez spent three years at CSN Bay Area as a multi-platform reporter, covering the Raiders and Oakland Athletics as well as anchoring the SportsNet Central cable news show. Gutierrez votes for the Baseball Hall of Fame and is also a member of the Professional Football Writers of America and currently serves as the PFWA's Las Vegas chapter president. He is also a member of the California Chicano News Media Association and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists. Gutierrez has authored three books: Tommy Davis' Tales from the Dodgers Dugout, 100 Things Raiders Fans Should Know & Do Before They Die and If These Walls Could Talk: Stories from the Raiders Sideline, Locker Room and Press Box with Lincoln Kennedy. You can follow Paul on Twitter @PGutierrezESPN
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          HENDERSON, Nev. -- The Las Vegas Raiders' already-banged up offensive line took another blow Wednesday with left guard Richie Incognito being placed on injured reserve.

          With teams able to bring players back from IR after three weeks, the Raiders are hoping Incognito, a four-time Pro Bowler and Pro Bowl alternate last season, can return soon.

          Incognito, 37, had been dealing with an Achilles injury entering Monday night's home opener against the New Orleans Saints. He left the game after the first quarter and was replaced by rookie John Simpson.

          The Raiders (2-0) had already been without the services of right tackle Trent Brown (calf) and his backup Sam Young (groin), and Denzelle Good, a guard by trade, has played the position after both went out in the season opener at Carolina.

          Incognito has been one of general manager Mike Mayock's best free-agent signings since joining the Raiders after the 2018 season after retiring in 2017. Incognito, who has had his share of both on- and off-the-field issues, has not been a distraction for the Raiders since signing a one-year "prove-it" deal and then being rewarded with a two-year extension worth up to $14 million, with more than $6 million guaranteed late last season.

          But with Incognito out at least through the team's bye week, Simpson, a fourth-round selection, has to step up this weekend at the New England Patriots (1-1).

          "You know what, he did pretty good, it's a credit to him," Raiders coach Jon Gruden said of Simpson on Tuesday. "We put him in some tough spots...we let him fill in for Richie Incognito and he had his struggles on Wednesday [in practice] against Datone Jones. He learned some valuable lessons.

          "He got thrust into a real tough situation [against the Saints]. [David] Onyemata, [Sheldon] Rankins, those are two of the best interior players in the game. He did OK in there. He handled a lot of situations very well. I give [Raiders center] Rodney Hudson and [left tackle] Kolton Miller a lot of credit for playing really good next to him. But it was a good start for John Simpson."