ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) — The Oakland Raiders placed right tackle Donald Penn on injured reserve with a groin injury Wednesday.
A three-time Pro Bowl offensive lineman, Penn was injured in the third quarter of Sunday's 45-42 overtime win against the Cleveland Browns. Penn limped off the field, returned briefly for a handful of plays then went to the sideline for good.
Raiders coach Jon Gruden said the team is hopeful of getting Penn back later this season.
"Obviously, I love Donald so I'll miss him for however long that is," quarterback Derek Carr said. "Donald gave me that protection."
Brandon Parker, Oakland's third-round draft pick, replaced Penn against the Browns and is expected to start Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers. Parker missed time in training camp with an ankle injury and was inactive in Week 3.
"He's back, he's healthy and he played pretty good when he got in there and played," Gruden said. "This will be a great opportunity for him."
Parker was a three-time FCS All-American left tackle while starting 48 consecutive games at North Carolina A&T. He was shifted to right tackle with Oakland after the Raiders used the 15th overall pick in this year's draft on UCLA's Kolton Miller.
Miller's arrival was also the reason the Raiders moved Penn to the right side. Oakland's first-round pick has been starting at left tackle since the preseason.
With Parker now in the lineup, the Raiders will be starting two rookies for the first time since at least the 1970 merger, according to Elias Sports Bureau.
Carr, who has been sacked three times in each of Oakland's previous two games, doesn't seem concerned. He called Parker one of the smartest rookies he has played with.
"With Brandon, everyone knows how we feel about him around here," Carr said. "I'm sure he had a couple plays as a rookie that he'd want back but you live with that. He's tough, he's very intelligent so crazy looks and things like that aren't going to mess with him.
"Kolton's awesome, he's a stud. You don't feel like you have two rookies because they're so talented but at the end of the day they are. It's something we have to do a good job of helping those guys out."
Against the Browns, Parker started the day on special teams and wound up playing 57 snaps at right tackle.
Each time he went to the sidelines, Parker said Penn was there to greet him and discuss the plays.
"I wish it could have went better but I always expect the best out of myself," Parker said. "The sack at the end was completely my fault. Just a missed protection read."
Penn was the Raiders' starting left tackle from 2014-2017. He started 170 consecutive games before suffering an injury to his right foot in Week 15 last season.
The 35-year-old signed a two-year extension last season after holding out early in training camp. Penn restructured the deal earlier this year.
Cornerback Daryl Worley returned from a four-game suspension and practiced for the first time since the preseason. Worley was suspended for violating the league's substance-abuse and personal-conduct policies.
Notes: The Raiders have a roster exemption for Worley until Saturday. . Offensive lineman Ian Silberman was signed. Silberman was with Oakland in training camp and was on the initial 53-man roster but was released Sept. 2.
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