Boss hopes to make Raiders debut vs. Jets

ALAMEDA, Calif. -- The game became infamous for the violence at Candlestick Park. There were fights in the stands, shootings in the parking lot and numerous arrests as Oakland faced the 49ers in a preseason game on Aug. 20. For Kevin Boss there's another memory, a collision in which he sprained his left knee, an injury that has kept him from playing.

Boss didn't even practice until Sept 13. Once he came back, it was assumed he would return to the lineup. But when Boss, who joined the Raiders as a free agent after four seasons with the Giants, missed his second straight game on Sunday, the question was whether he had "a setback.''

"It wasn't necessarily a setback,'' first-year coach Hue Jackson said. "I get to make a decision about what's best for our football team, and what's best for the player.''

Jackson's plan for Boss when Oakland hosts the Jets Sunday is uncertain, but Boss' intent is to play.

"The knee is improving every day of the week,'' Boss said after practice Wednesday, "so my plan is to make my debut this week. I'm looking forward to getting back on the field and helping this team win.''

The 6-6, 235-pound Boss was signed to a four-year, $16- million contract on Aug. 4 by the Raiders after they were spurned by their veteran tight end Zach Miller, who jumped to the Seattle Seahawks. Then Boss got hurt against the 49ers.

"It's not ideally the way I'd like to start my career here,'' Boss said. "But everything happens for a reason. I'm confident I am going to get back out there and not miss a beat.''

The thinking is the Raiders (1-1), in losing to the Bills, 38-35, Sunday after leading 21-3 at the half, missed Boss very much. Backup tight end Brandon Myers has caught only four passes for 26 yards in Oakland's two games.

Miller was a prime receiver for quarterback Jason Campbell, and Boss was brought in to fill that role. Oakland has completed 36 passes in the two games, as compared with the 52 combined by their first two opponents, the Broncos and Bills.

"I thought I had a chance of playing last week,'' Boss said, "and they decided to give me another week of rest. Probably better in the long run.''

Or the short pass.