BOCA RATON, Fla. – Menelik Watson ruptured an Achilles’ tendon in the Oakland Raiders’ third preseason game last summer.

Austin Howard suffered a season-ending knee injury in Week 14.

And while the two should compete at right tackle this season, at least one of them will miss the start of the Raiders’ offseason training program when it begins April 18, coach Jack Del Rio said at the NFL owners meetings on Tuesday.

“When the program begins, we know that Austin will not begin, but I think Menelik has a chance to be there,” Del Rio said.

“Austin’s just a little bit behind [because] his injury occurred a little bit later in the year. But they both will return [for the regular season] and, like I said, last year, Menelik was probably leading prior to his injury, but once Austin got his chance, he really played well for us last year. And the more we go through tape this offseason, the more you kind of appreciate what a nice job he did.”

Del Rio also said recently-signed free agent Kelechi Osemele will play guard, though he was not as definitive on which side of the line he would play.

Osemele, who signed a five-year, $58.5 million contract with $24.5 million guaranteed with Oakland, is a left guard by trade, though he started the Baltimore Ravens’ final four games last season at left tackle.

The Raiders re-signed left tackle Donald Penn. Gabe Jackson started all 16 games at left guard for Oakland last season and he has started 28 of his 29 career games there.

At $11.7 million per year, Osemele's contract is a hefty deal for a guard, though Del Rio said the job of sorting out who plays on either side – Osemele or Jackson – would be handled by offensive line coach Mike Tice.