Raiders hopeful of getting injured players back

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Raiders head coach Dennis Allen said, "There's not a lot of time to wallow in self pity" after Sunday's last-minute loss to the Titans. And he's not kidding.

Oakland, already back to practicing Monday night, travels to Dallas to play Thanksgiving Day, and it might be thankful to get some injured players back.

Allen said he is hopeful that left tackle Jared Veldheer (triceps) will play Thursday. That has been the plan and, "He hasn't suffered any setbacks," Allen said. Veldheer has been out since training camp.

Tight end Mychal Rivera, who was knocked out of Sunday's game by a vicious hit, was not only at practice but also in great spirits. He said he has passed all of his concussion tests, per the league's protocol, and expects to play against the Cowboys.

"I'll be playing," he said. "It was a pretty brutal hit, but the real brutal thing about it was my helmet falling off and my head hitting the ground."

The NFL suspended Titans safety Michael Griffin one game without pay for the hit. He is a repeat offender of the league's rules prohibiting hits to the head and neck area of defenseless players.

Oakland Raiders tight end Mychal Rivera (81) loses his helmet as he is hit by Tennessee Titans free safety Michael Griffin (33) during the second quarter of an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Nov. 24, 2013. Rivera left the game after being injured on the play. (AP Photo/Beck Diefenbach) less Oakland Raiders tight end Mychal Rivera (81) loses his helmet as he is hit by Tennessee Titans free safety Michael Griffin (33) during the second quarter of an NFL football game in Oakland, Calif., Sunday, Nov. ... more Photo: Beck Diefenbach, Associated Press Photo: Beck Diefenbach, Associated Press Image 1 of / 7 Caption Close Raiders hopeful of getting injured players back 1 / 7 Back to Gallery

The safety was flagged for unnecessary roughness in the second quarter for the hit on Rivera. It was Griffin's second violation this season and fourth since 2011.

Rivera said Griffin sent him a text to say the hit wasn't malicious and that he was just doing his job.

Cornerback Mike Jenkins also left Sunday's game with a concussion and was back at practice, but the indication was that he hadn't passed all of the concussion tests.

Running back Darren McFadden (hamstring) and safety Tyvon Branch (fibula) were on the field running Monday morning, and Allen said before practice that he wanted to see how that had gone. McFadden was at practice Monday night and Branch wasn't.

"To me, I could have been back last week, but I just have to take my time with it," said McFadden, who hopes to play Thursday.

Allen said he didn't know whether wide receiver Denarius Moore (shoulder) will be back this week, and Moore was not at practice.

About that kicking: Is there an issue between kicker Sebastian Janikowski and holder Marquette King?

Janikowski has missed 7 of 22 field-goal attempts this season, including two misses Sunday. He told sideline reporter Lincoln Kennedy that one of those two was King's fault and then wasn't around to talk to reporters after the game.

"No, there is no issue at all," Janikowski said Monday. "I just pushed it."

Janikowski said he watched game film for 2 1/2 hours of all his kicks this year and last. "It seems like my steps are off to the side and I am too wide. My plant foot is way ahead, and I am not finishing."

Asked about Kennedy's report, Janikowski said to "talk to Marquette or the head coach about that."

"Marquette did a great job all year round and we're cool," Janikowski said.

Allen didn't want to get into it too much.

"I wouldn't necessarily say there's an issue," Allen said. "But I would say when we go out there to kick field goals, we have to make field goals. ... We obviously have to do a better job."

Pryor sits: Allen said that the Raiders had some read-option plays prepared for Terrelle Pryor on Sunday but that it was beneficial to "give him another week to heal up" from his sprained knee. Matt McGloin will make a third straight start at quarterback Thursday.