Amari Cooper will play vs. Chiefs

The Oakland Raiders are getting a huge boost on Sunday, with Amari Cooper returning to the lineup against the Kansas City Chiefs.

After missing last week’s contest against the New York Giants with both a high ankle sprain and a concussion, wide receiver Amari Cooper is making his return against the Chiefs. It was widely thought that Cooper would need another week after missing practice on Wednesday and Thursday, but after being a limited participant on Friday, the Raiders felt confident enough to make him active for Sunday’s tilt.

Cooper has slogged through a miserable season, although his previous matchup in Week 7 against the Chiefs was a career day. On the year, Cooper has 42 catches for 499 yards and five touchdowns. In that showdown against the Chiefs, the former Alabama star caught 11 passes for 210 yards and two scores.

Cooper won’t have the luxury of matching up with Phillip Gaines as he did that day, but he should still have big numbers. Kansas City has suspended All-Pro cornerback Marcus Peters for Sunday’s game due to his actions last weekend, and without him, the starters are likely to be Darrelle Revis and Terrance Mitchell, with Kenneth Acker and Gaines coming off the bench. Last week, the Chiefs allowed Josh McCown to throw for 331 yards while the New York Jets controlled the clock to the tune of more than 42 minutes in possession.

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Oakland will also have Michael Crabtree back in the lineup after he served the league’s one-game suspension for fighting Aqib Talib in the Raiders’ 21-14 win over the Denver Broncos in Week 12.