There’s a lot of talk about the many injuries plaguing the Oakland Raiders going into the game at Oakland on Sunday, November 27, against the Chicago Bears. Here is a look at the latest update on injured players, and who should be on the field in week 12.

Darrius Heyward-Bey(notes)

Wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey took a horrific hit last Sunday in Minnesota, enough to knock his helmet off, and was said to have suffered a concussion. Heyward-Bey was on the field at practice today, running around, throwing balls and looking good. Of all the injured players, he is the most likely to be in the game against the Bears this Sunday. The Silver and Black were looking thin as far as receivers, and this is definitely a piece of great news.

Darren McFadden(notes)

It’s getting to the point where I don’t even want to bring the name McFadden up. He’s been out since he left the game against the Kansas City Chiefs in week seven, and although he was said to be out of the boot as much as eleven days ago, he wasn’t even on the sidelines at practice today. The latest rumor is that he’ll be out for the game against the Miami Dolphins as well.

Jacoby Ford(notes)

Ford suffered an ankle sprain in the game against the San Diego Chargers, and though he was said to be out the boot, he did not practice on Friday and is definitely out for Sunday’s game

Sebastian Janikowski(notes)

Definitely more good news here, in that kicker Sebastian Janikowski is not on the injured list at all, and is likely back at 100%.

Denarius Moore(notes)

Wide receiver Denarius Moore is listed as questionable, but he was able to get out and run around at practice on Friday. Head coach Hue Jackson said he’s taking it day by day, and the Raiders could certainly use another healthy receiver against the Bears. Jackson reiterated after practice that Terrelle Pryor(notes) is not an option in the receiver position. Let’s hope more good news is forthcoming for Moore.

Another player that is definitely out is defensive end Jarvis Moss(notes), and running back Taiwan Jones(notes) is listed as questionable. The Chicago Bears injury list looks especially short when compared to the Raiders. We know quarterback Jay Cutler(notes) is out with a broken thumb, and that could be a big advantage for Oakland. Their wide receiver, Devin Hester(notes), is listed as probable with a shin injury, and is said to likely be in the game for the Bears.

No matter what the injuries or challenges the Raiders face on Sunday, we have to remember how tough and resilient this team is, and with so many great players that will be on the field in addition to all of the positive energy at O.co Coliseum, all I can say is, “Just win baby!”

K.C. Dermody grew up in the Bay Area of California, and has been an Oakland Raiders fan from the time she could walk. She has continued her loyalty to the team through its many ups and downs over the decades, and has been privileged to meet several of her favorite players, including famed quarterback, Jim Plunkett . Follow her at www.facebook.com/KCDermodyWriter or on Twitter @kcdermody.

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The Oakland Raiders will battle it out with the Chicago Bears on Sunday, November 27, in front of another sold out crowd at O.co Coliseum. This game, of course, is an important one for the team to win, after the Raiders lost the last two at home against two AFC West rivals, the Kansas City Chiefs and the Denver Broncos.

The Raiders have come alive in their last two games on the road, winning against both the San Diego Chargers and the Minnesota Vikings. Their road record is 4-1, at home they are 2-3. But that record may be a bit deceiving when it comes to the team today. Especially the loss against the Chiefs. As we know, backup quarterback, Kyle Boller(notes), played the first half of the game, and when Carson Palmer(notes) came in, he’d only been in Oakland for a few days. I read an article written by a Bears’ fan this morning and one of the reasons he believes Chicago will win against Oakland, is because of their four touchdown loss to Kansas City, but he says nothing of the circumstances behind that loss.

During the last two games, we’ve really seen the team come together, and Palmer has quickly become the leader the Raiders need. It’s doubtful that we’ll see either the injured Darren McFadden(notes) or Jacoby Ford(notes) in the game, but I don’t think it’s going to matter. In the game against the Vikings, Palmer connected with seven different players, and he’ll find a way to do it again this Sunday.

Also of note, the Raiders have 19 runs of at least 20 yards this season, most in the NFL. Michael Bush(notes) will likely add a lot to those numbers against the Bears.

Once again, it’s going to be the Raiders’ defense that needs to be on fire in Oakland in order to stop the Bears, and keeping penalties down is also key. Fair or unfair, the Raiders will have to come in with confidence and power through to keep that momentum going. Things have often been unfair when it comes to officiating games involving the Silver and Black, but what matters in the end is whether they’re able to turn the battle into a win or a loss, and we really need the win this Sunday.

In the game against Minnesota, veteran cornerback Lito Sheppard(notes) had six solo tackles and a sack, and safety Matt Giordano(notes) recorded his second interception in the last two games. Against the Bears’ quarterback, Caleb Hanie(notes), we should see that again this Sunday.

It may be a tough one, but this time I believe the fans will be rewarded by a Raiders victory at home. On Monday morning, we should be looking at a 7-4 record and one game closer to winning the AFC West in 2011.

K.C. Dermody grew up in the Bay Area of California, and has been an Oakland Raiders fan from the time she could walk. She has continued her loyalty to the team through its many ups and downs over the decades, and has been privileged to meet several of her favorite players, including famed quarterback, Jim Plunkett . Follow her at www.facebook.com/KCDermodyWriter or on Twitter @kcdermody.

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Remarks by the president welcoming the 1985 Super Bowl champion Chicago Bears to the White House

 THE PRESIDENT:  Everybody have a seat.  This is as much fun as I will have as President of the United States, right here.  (Applause.)  This is one of the perks of the job, right here.  Ladies and gentlemen, the greatest team in NFL history — the 1985 Chicago Bears.  (Applause.)  Now, I know that may get me into some trouble in some cities that I visit.  (Laughter.)  But I believe it is the truth. 

     Cynics might say that I’m only hosting the ‘85 Bears today because the Green Bay Packers were here a couple months ago and I was not going to be outdone.  (Laughter.)  But as it turns out, after this team won the Super Bowl, it never had a chance to celebrate here in the White House.  The day after Super Bowl 20, half a million Chicagoans turned out in 25-below wind-chill weather to welcome the champs back from New Orleans.  But, sadly, the day after that, we endured a national tragedy as the Space Shuttle Challenger exploded shortly after liftoff. 

So the moment for the Bears to visit the White House was postponed and the years went by.  But shortly after I took office, someone at the NFL realized, hey, there’s a Bears fan living in the White House.  (Laughter.)  And they called my staff and asked if we could make this happen.  And so today, I am proud to say to the players, to the coaches, to the staff of the 1985 Bears:  Welcome to the White House for this well-deserved and long-overdue recognition.  (Applause.) 

     Now, I was mentioning as I was visiting with the players and coaches out back that in 1985, I had just moved to Chicago.  So, unlike most Chicagoans, I didn’t really know what it was like to be a suffering sports fan.  (Laughter.)  There are a few members of Congress and big Bears fans here from Illinois who knew what that was like.  But none of us had ever seen what happened that fall.  Nobody had ever seen anything like it.  This city was invigorated and brought together by this team.  This team ruled the city.  It riveted the country.  They were everywhere.  They were like the Beatles.  (Laughter.)  And this was before SportsCenter and before 24/7 sports news had really taken off.  But they just captured the country’s imagination.

     We loved this team.  Everybody in Chicago knew all these guys’ names.  We even knew the names of the offensive linemen.  (Laughter.)  Now, you know offensive linemen, they don’t get enough love.

PLAYER:  Oh, yeah.

PLAYER:  Right, that’s for sure.

THE PRESIDENT:  But these guys had their own poster — “the Black and Blues Brothers.”  When is the last time you saw a poster of an offensive line?

(Laughter.)

     But what made this team so captivating wasn’t just that they won, wasn’t just that they dominated — it was the way they did it.  Yes, they were punishing.  Yes, they were dominant.  But they also had a lot of fun.  And you could tell they enjoyed playing together.  They were, of course, led by the coach who set the tone — Hall of Famer Mike Ditka.  (Applause.)  In training camp, he said, “Put a chip on your shoulder in July and keep it there till January.”

Some of you may remember that back in 2004, when I was running for the Senate, some people were trying to draft Ditka to run against me.  (Laughter.)  I will admit I was a little worried — (laughter) — because he doesn’t lose.  Coach, I’m glad you didn’t run, because I have to say I probably would have been terrible on ESPN.  (Laughter and applause.)

     And in a sign that anything is possible, even in Washington, Coach Ditka and Buddy Ryan are here together.  (Laughter and applause.)  Coach Ryan’s 46 defense changed football forever.  Nobody had ever seen anything like it.  Nobody knew what to do with it.  And with the talent he had on the defensive side of the ball, there wasn’t anything other teams could do about it. 

     I mean, there are guys who hit, and there are guys who hit. And these guys hit.  Mike Singletary, Steve McMichael, Otis Wilson, Wilber Marshall, Dan Hampton, Gary Fencik, and Richard Dent, the Super Bowl MVP — a guy I used to actually work out with in the gym and made me feel weak.  (Laughter.)

     This was the defense that set the standard and it is still the standard.  And I was just complaining to Coach Ryan — he gave all these tips to his sons who are now coaching, and he should have passed on additional wisdom on to us.  But more than 25 years later, the standard against which all other teams are compared is Coach Ryan’s defense.     

These guys lived to wreak havoc.  It was like they were competing with each other to see who could get to the quarterback or the running back first.  There was one game that season in which the other team’s offense had the ball in Bears’ territory a total of 21 seconds.  (Laughter.)

     Now, of course, this was also the second-ranked offense in the league that season.  Jim McMahon — where’s Jim? 

JIM McMAHON:  Just right here.  (Applause.)  Do you need me to speak?  (Laughter.)

THE PRESIDENT:  No, we’re not going to let Jim have the mic. (Laughter.)  I’m just going to say nice things about you.  (Laughter.)

Jim played quarterback with no fear and lived life with very few rules — (laughter) — a rock & roll quarterback who was on the cover of Rolling Stone.  And he had kids wearing headbands and shades to school because of Jim.  And he gave me a headband and I’m not wearing it — (laughter) — but I want you to know that I do have it.  (Laughter.)

Willie Gault might have been the fastest man in football — (applause) — probably had the highest high-five.  (Applause.) 

     And then there was somebody we all revered, and that was Walter Payton.  (Applause.)  Even 12 years after we lost him to cancer at the too-young age of 45, Chicago still loves “Sweetness.”  He was, without question, one of the greatest to ever play the game.  And after he high-stepped and leapt his way past Jim Brown’s all-time rushing record, he held that record for 18 years.  He was also one of best blocking backs ever, sometimes hitting other guys so hard he’d knock them out of the game.  And we are so grateful that his wife, Connie, is here today with us. (Applause.) 

     We also, tragically, lost Dave Duerson this year.  And Dave was one of the team’s hardest hitters.  Hopefully, lessons from his brave struggle with the kind of brain injuries those hits might have caused will help today’s players down the road.  And we’re grateful that his former wife, Alicia, is here today as well.  (Applause.) 

     This team had nine Pro-Bowlers, four future Hall-of-Famers — five counting Coach Ditka.  They won one three-game stretch by a combined score of 104-3.  And even though they were the youngest team in the NFL at that time, these guys were so confident that Kevin Butler, who was the kicker and still the Bears’ all-time leading scorer, called his then-fiancée, Cathy, from training camp in July to say that they had to change their wedding date because that was the Super Bowl day.  (Laughter.)   They were so confident that the day after they lost their only game of the season, they recorded the “Super Bowl Shuffle.”  (Laughter.)  They were suggesting that I should dance the “Super Bowl Shuffle.”  (Applause.)  Can’t do it.  But I do remember it.  And in Chicago, you could not get away from this song even if you wanted to.  (Laughter.)  I think it’s safe to say that this is the only team in NFL history with a gold record and a Grammy nomination.  (Applause.) 

     So this team changed everything for every team that came on after, on and off the field.  They changed the laws of football. They were gritty; they were gutsy; they were hardworking; they were fun-loving — sort of how Chicagoans like to think of themselves.  And Chicago has always been a diehard football town, but this team did something to our city that we’ve never gotten over.  We love the Bears.  And as much fun as it is to finally have these guys here, we want today’s Bears to come home to the White House with a championship as well.

     But, in the meantime, congratulations to all of you.  Thank you for helping to bring our city together.  Thank you for the incredible fun that you gave to all of us.  Stick around, guys, and enjoy yourselves.  But as I mentioned back there, don’t break anything and keep your eyes on McMahon.  (Laughter.)  All right? (Applause.)

COACH DITKA:  Wait a second.  We want to give the President on behalf of the 1985 Chicago Bears, we consider him one of us.  It was a great group of guys.  We’re very proud that you honored us by bringing us here.  It’s only 26 years after the fact, and five administrations, but thank you.  (Laughter and applause.)

     THE PRESIDENT:  Thank you so much. 

We’re Black and Blue All Over:

The Chicago Bears flipped their offensive tackles during Monday night’s training camp practice, putting J’Marcus Webb on the left side and rookie Gabe Carimi on the right. From the sounds of it, that’s how they hope to enter the regular season.

Offensive line coach Mike Tice said he “doesn’t want to play games” with the lineup, according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune. Tice said Webb is better suited for the position athletically, and it’s now clear the Bears won’t be signing another veteran free agent to compete for a starting job.

I’m all for maintaining continuity along the offensive line to allow players to develop in their assigned roles, but let’s just say there is some doubt around the NFL about whether Webb can play left tackle. In May, I suggested that Carimi might be the best short-term option on the left side because of his college experience, even if he projected long-term as a right tackle. In the end, the Bears are taking a leap of faith that Webb can develop at a more difficult position after having an up-and-down season on the right side last year.

True left tackles are a rare commodity. If you’re choosing from two on the third day of training camp, maybe you have none.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Bears players seemed fatigued after Monday night’s practice, writes Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com.
• Bears teammates were sharing anecdotes of awe Monday about now-departed center Olin Kreutz, notes Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• Bob Wojnowski of the Detroit News on the Detroit Lions’ free-agent approach: “The Lions have resisted temptation, and for now, they’re wise to do so.”
• Lions right tackle Gosder Cherilus rested his surgically repaired knee during Monday’s practice. Donald Thomas worked in his place, according to Dave Birkett of the Detroit Free Press, while Jason Fox continues to work at left tackle in place of the injured Jeff Backus.
• Lions quarterback Shaun Hill has recovered from offseason back surgery, writes Tom Kowalski of Mlive.com.
• Linebacker Brad Jones is among the players who have returned to health at the start of the Green Bay Packers’ training camp, writes Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Rookie tight end D.J. Williams is making a good early impression at Packers camp, notes Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• The Packers are going to give left tackle Chad Clifton plenty of rest during training camp, writes Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.
• Minnesota Vikings left tackle Bryant McKinnie wouldn’t explain why he was placed on the non-football injury list to start the season, writes Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• Vikings coach Leslie Frazier on McKinnie’s situation, via Judd Zulgad of the Star Tribune: “He’s on NFI and we’re going to take a look at some things and just try to get him where we need him to be. But Bryant’s going to be fine. He’s going to be fine. We’ve just got to go through some things and get him ready for the things that are ahead.”
• The Vikings have cleared cornerback Cedric Griffin (knee) to practice, notes Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.