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          Raiders holding out hope David Amerson can play vs. Tom Brady, Patriots

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          • Paul Gutierrez, ESPN Staff WriterNov 18, 2017, 12:09 AM
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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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          ALAMEDA, Calif. -- David Amerson last played for the Oakland Raiders in their 31-30 victory over the Kansas City Chiefs on Oct. 19, the starting cornerback injuring his foot in that game.

          Since then, Amerson has been inactive against the Buffalo Bills and Miami Dolphins and had another week off with the Raiders’ bye and still could not practice this week.

          And yet ... Amerson was listed as doubtful to play Sunday against the New England Patriots in Mexico City, rather than out, after working with trainers during practice.

          “Well, he’ll travel,” Raiders coach Jack Del Rio said of Amerson. “He ran well enough on the side for it to be a consideration. Still doubtful, which means what it means. The percentages are not great that he’s going to play, but there’s that possibility that remains.”

          The Raiders' secondary has been a weakness this season, with three cornerbacks entering last weekend with the three worst Pro Football Focus passer ratings allowed when targeted among 115 corners with at least 100 pass snaps in coverage -- No. 113 Dexter McDonald (128.0), No. 114 Sean Smith (133.6) and Amerson (156.3).

          And Tom Brady and the Patriots roll into Estadio Azteca with the top passing offense in the NFL, averaging 301.6 yards through the air per game.

          Early in the week, the Raiders placed first-round draft pick Gareon Conley and his injured right shin on season-ending injured reserve after the rookie appeared in just two games, the most recent in Week 3, and could not recover from a setback. Antonio Hamilton also suffered a season-ending knee injury and was put on IR on Oct. 14.

          “Things happen,” Del Rio said. “You just have to plug in and coach up and move on. Nobody really cares. Bottom line as a team, we’ve had a good week of prep. The areas where we’ve had injuries are probably the two thinnest positions coming into the season.

          “Linebackers and corners were the two spots that have really been hit the hardest and those were probably our two thinnest positions. Sometimes it goes that way, but we feel like we’re practicing well. We’re building our confidence. We’ll get a great challenge this weekend to see where we are with arguably the best quarterback to play in at least the modern era.”