ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Maurice Jones-Drew said he is going to try to play Sunday in the Oakland Raiders' home opener against Houston, but he is unsure whether he will be cleared to play as he deals with a hand injury.
Jones-Drew missed Wednesday's and Thursday's practices because of the injury, and said Thursday he had a minor procedure on his right hand this week.
There was a report that he broke his hand, but he downplayed the injury. Jones-Drew had a bandage on his hand near his ring finger.
"There's no pain. I just have to see if the swelling goes down," he said.
Jones-Drew, who starred in Jacksonville before signing with Oakland this offseason, said he has played without practicing in the past. He said he can carry the ball with his left hand but that the biggest issues might be blocking and catching the ball.
While he is hopeful to play, Jones-Drew did concede it is a long season and risking further injury has to be considered.
"If I don't play, I will be out there coaching," the veteran running back said.
Oakland offensive coordinator Greg Olson sounded as if Jones-Drew will have difficulty playing. He said veteran Darren McFadden and Latavius Murray are in line to play. Murray, a sixth-round pick last year who spent the season on injured reserve, was impressive in the preseason.
"I'm very eager to go out and show what I can do," said Murray, who is the Raiders' primary kick returner.
No matter who is running, the Raiders need to produce better on the ground against the Texans. They had 25 rushing yards on 15 carries Sunday with Jones-Drew getting just 11 yards on nine carries.
"I'm still confident we will be able to run the ball," Oakland coach Dennis Allen said.