Silver Minings: Trayvon Mullen could return against Chiefs

The Las Vegas Raiders have had to play the majority of the season without their second starting cornerback, Trayvon Mullen.

Mullen suffered a foot injury back in Week 4 against the Los Angeles Chargers and has been on injured reserve ever since. After spending about two months without him, the Raiders designated the defensive back to return last week, starting the clocking on his 21-day window to be added to the active roster.

Over the last three days, he’s been a full participant in practice, and Raiders digital team reporter Levi Edwards wrote yesterday that all signs are pointing towards Mullen returning to action this Sunday against the Kansas City Chiefs.

It also sounds like the three-year pro has been studying his playbook during the time off as here’s what defensive coordinator Gus Bradley had to say about the cornerback:

“He’s very sharp. He understands principles. He plays at a high speed. As physical traits, he’s got really good length. I think that is part of it. Like [Brandon] Facyson has good length and when you have a corner that has length, they trust that they can play at the line of scrimmage more. So, that part of it. He’s sharp. He’s on the details and he really has a sense of confidence, and he brings that to the group.”

That’s good news for Las Vegas’ defense that has allowed over 30 points in three out of its last four games, including a disheartening 41-point performance the last time the Raiders played the Chiefs. Hopefully, Mullen will suit up and can help keep Kansas City in check this time around.

In other Raiders’ links:

• Waller out again: the tight end will miss his second game in a row with the strained IT band that forced him to leave the Cowboys game on Thanksgiving early.
• “Unlikely” Incognito plays this season: interim head coach Rich Bisaccia said the 38-year-old guard has had so many setbacks while recovering from the calf injury he suffered in training camp that the Raiders will probably have to play the season without him.
• Former Raiders head coach gets a new job: Hue Jackson spent two years with the Silver and Black, 2010 as offensive coordinator and 2011 as head coach, and was named the next head coach at Grambling State, the alma mater of legendary Raiders’ cornerback Willie Brown.
• Jim Harbaugh to Vegas?: “If Harbaugh does decide to give the NFL a try again, keep an eye on the Raiders,” ESPN’s Dan Graziano said on Wednesday. “If anyone’s going to make an outside-the-box hire that isn’t on the NFL’s list of recommended candidates, it’s this guy. The Davis and Harbaugh families have a friendship that dates back a ways.”