Jared Veldheer to return vs Cowboys, will Khalif Barnes move to guard?

Last week Raiders head coach, Dennis Allen, said this Thursday's game against the Cowboys is the target for Jared Veldheer's return to the lineup at left tackle. Today he confirmed that plan is still in motion but will Veldheer jump right back in as starter? And what of Khalif Barnes?  Dennis Allen explains.

"Well I'm hopeful for sure that Veldheer's going to be ready to go," said Allen Monday. "I mean that was kind of our time line and our anticipation. As of today, we haven't suffered any setbacks. . . I don't know that he's ready to go in there and play 65, 70 snaps in a game. My anticipation is that you would see him in there on somewhat of a rotational basis, but yet I anticipate him playing."

"We'll have to make some adjustments, obviously. Khalif [Barnes] has been playing left tackle. We'll make some adjustments, game-plan-wise, on what gives us the best five guys out there and a chance to move the ball and be successful."

When asked if Barnes would slide inside to left guard, Allen said only "We'll see."

UPDATE: Reports from Tuesday's practice are the Jared Veldheer was getting work with the first team at left tackle while Khalif Barnes was working at left guard. It looks as if this move could be happening this week.

The move makes a lot of sense and has been a very real possibility for some time now with the anticipation of Veldheer's return from partial season injured reserve.

Barnes does his best work in run blocking and he would be replacing the worst rated offensive guard in the NFL in Lucas Nix.

Having Veldheer at left tackle and Barnes at left guard would very likely improve the Raiders' offensive line tremendously. With it sounding like Veldheer will not get the start, we may have to wait until the following week against the Jets to see it that lineup for an entire game, if that is indeed the plan.

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