Raiders need Antonio Brown for any chance in AFC West

If Antonio Brown isn’t fully immersed with the Oakland Raiders, they might as well move to Las Vegas early and move on from 2019.

Brown, 31, is arguably the best receiver in football. After having an ugly and public falling out with the Pittsburgh Steelers this offseason, he was jettisoned to the Raiders. As a result of the acrimony, he was traded for the paltry price of a third-round pick. Oakland then did right by Brown, stuffing his current deal with another $30 million, taking care of its newest asset.

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However, Brown has yet to participate fully in a single training camp practice as he deals with a foot injury. It’s true that Brown’s impact will be measured only from September on. However, it’s also fair to wonder if Brown’s absence is going to have an adverse effect. With quarterback Derek Carr trying to save his job this season, he has a pair of new weapons to acclimate to in Tyrell Williams and Brown. To this juncture, he’s had almost no chance to create some chemistry with the future Hall of Famer, as Brown also missed some time in OTAs as well.

The situation has increasingly become a point of frustration for the Raiders and head coach Jon Gruden, who offered up this soundbite to the media on Friday.

“I think we’re all disappointed. We want to get the party started.”

Not ideal. Without Brown, theRaiders are relying offensively on Williams and a band of unknowns at receiver and tight end. As well as that, they’ll have to make do with a rookie running back in Josh Jacobs. In short, Brown needs to be every bit the player he was in Pittsburgh to make the proverbial silver and black engine go.

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Looking across the AFC West, the Raiders will have no favors done for them. Oakland has to contend with the Kansas City Chiefs and Los Angeles Chargers. They are arguably the two top teams in the NFL. Additionally, the road schedule is the toughest in football with games against Kansas City and Los Angeles, along with the Denver Broncos, Green Bay Packers, Minnesota Vikings, Houston Texans, Indianapolis Colts and New York Jets. It’s fair to wonder if Oakland will be favored in even one of those tilts.

For now, though, it’s about getting Antonio Brown healthy and on the field prior to the first preseason game. Th Raiders have a little more than a month before opening up on Monday Night Football in the Black Hole against Denver. For now, time remains on their side.