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Raiders linebacker Sio Moore has been downgraded to out for Sunday's game against the Kansas City Chiefs, a huge blow to a defense already thin at several positions.
The team's No. 2 leading tackler missed Friday's practice with a hip injury and was officially listed as questionable. Any time a player misses a Friday session, which is considered a light day, it spells trouble for his status on Sunday. Moore was expected to play despite that fact, and his omission certainly came as a surprise.
[BAIR: Raiders see vast improvement in LB Sio Moore]
His absence will make life difficult on a Raiders defense with just four healthy linebackers for its 4-3 defensive scheme. Miles Burris will man the middle and Khalil Mack will line up on the strong side.
Linebackers Bojay Filimoeatu or Ray Ray Armstrong could fill in as a starter for Moore. No matter which player is selected, it will be his first NFL start.
Filimoeatu was promoted to the active roster on Saturday. Armstrong has played 12 games, primarily as a special teams player, since signing in-season. He has played just two defensive snaps in the last four weeks. The Raiders released veteran Jamar Chaney on Tuesday, though he wasn't involved on defense either.
Translation: The Silver and Black are in some trouble.
Moore, Burris and Mack were expected to play most every snap, as they'd done for weeks. Now there's a whole on the weak side to be exploited by Chiefs skill players, including star running back Jamaal Charles.
