The Oakland Raiders will be without tight end Kevin Boss for their regular-season opener at Denver on Monday night.
Sensing Boss might not be ready for the opener, Oakland kept four tight ends on its 53-man roster, though none of the remaining three have much experience.
Brandon Myers, the likely starter with Boss out, has five starts in two years and only 16 career receptions. David Ausberry and Ben Gordon are both rookies.
For Myers, it will be his first game in prime time since the Raiders lost to the San Diego Chargers 24-20 in their 2009 opener.
"It's a different atmosphere so everyone's kind of jacked up a little bit," Myers said. "I'm confident in myself and my abilities. I just feel like my play has been consistent. I think that's what every football player tries to do."
Boss signed a four-year, $16 million deal on Aug. 5 after the Raiders lost Zach Miller to free agency. Miller, who led the team in receptions each of the past three seasons, signed with the Seattle Seahawks to join ex-Oakland teammate Robert Gallery and former Raiders coach Tom Cable.
Wide receiver Louis Murphy (sports hernia) and backup safety Mike Mitchell (knee) have also been ruled out for Oakland.
Murphy, the team's fourth-round draft pick in 2009, underwent surgery for a sports hernia early in training camp and told reporters he might not return until Oakland's home opener against the New York Jets on Sept. 25.
"That's what we're shooting for," said Murphy, who led all Raiders wide receivers with 41 catches last season. "I've been jogging and doing some light sprints. Just been trying to get back into the groove of things. It's coming along real well."
The Broncos ruled out wide receiver Demaryius Thomas on Saturday. Thomas, who returned to practice this week after missing all of the preseason with an Achilles injury, suffered a broken finger during practice Thursday, according to The Denver Post.
The Broncos will also hold out DT Marcus Thomas (chest), DE, Ty Warren (triceps) and LB D.J. Williams (elbow).
For a complete list of Week 1 injuries, see the official injury report.
The Associated Press contributed to this report
