National Football League

Oakland TE Boss out vs. Denver

Published Sep. 10, 2011 1:00 a.m. ET

foxsports

The Oakland Raiders will be without tight end Kevin Boss for their opener at Denver on Monday night.

Boss was ruled out of the game Saturday because of a knee strain sustained against San Francisco in the preseason on Aug. 20. He appeared to make some progress shortly after getting hurt but hasn't returned to practice since then.

Sensing Boss might not be ready for the opener, Oakland kept four tight ends on its 53-man roster, though none of the remaining three have much experience.

Brandon Myers, the likely starter with Boss out, has five starts in two years and only 16 career receptions. David Ausberry and Richard Gordon are both rookies.

For Myers, it will be his first game in prime time since the Raiders lost to the San Diego Chargers 24-20 in their 2009 opener.

''It's a different atmosphere so everyone's kind of jacked up a little bit,'' Myers said. ''I'm confident in myself and my abilities. I just feel like my play has been consistent. I think that's what every football player tries to do.''

Boss signed a four-year, $16 million deal on Aug. 5 after the Raiders lost Zach Miller to free agency. Miller, who led the team in receptions each of the past three seasons, signed with the Seattle Seahawks to join ex-Oakland teammate Robert Gallery and former Raiders coach Tom Cable.

Wide receiver Louis Murphy (sports hernia) and backup safety Mike Mitchell (knee) have also been ruled out for Oakland.

Murphy, the team's fourth-round draft pick in 2009, underwent surgery for a sports hernia early in training camp and told reporters he might not return until Oakland's home opener against the New York Jets on Sept. 25.

''That's what we're shooting for,'' said Murphy, who led all Raiders wide receivers with 41 catches a year ago ''I've been jogging and doing some light sprints. Just been trying to get back into the groove of things. It's coming along real well.''