His starting running back and two of his best wide receivers won't play in tonight's exhibition opener.
His new tight end has been around for about a week, and the offensive line is still a work in progress.
Yet it's still up to Raiders starting quarterback Jason Campbell to direct what's left of Oakland's offense against the Arizona Cardinals at the Coliseum.
Running back Darren McFadden (cracked orbital bone) and wide receivers Louis Murphy (undisclosed injury) and Jacoby Ford (broken hand) won't be available.
However long Campbell plays tonight, he'll look for rookies such as wideout Denarius Moore or tight end Kevin Boss, who signed as a free agent last week.
So what are the expectations?
"I want to see him take command of this offense, lead this team, move this team down the field,"
coach Hue Jackson said. "I want to see his poise under pressure. I want to see if our guys will respond to him, which I'm sure they will."
Campbell, the unquestioned starter after losing the job part of last season to Bruce Gradkowski, wants to see the offense evolve from 2010, when the Raiders were great at running and struggled in the passing game.
But because of the missing pieces, it's not easy to project how far the offense has come.
"It's always harder on offense to grow together than it is on defense because we have so much more that we have to improve on, as far putting in plays,"
Campbell said.
Campbell, however, isn't going to lower expectations because some key players are out.
"We know we don't have everyone at full strength, but at the same time we can use these games just in case someone goes down during the season,"
Campbell said. "Who can fill those shoes and who can step up and make plays? And that's what it's all about."
One player Campbell is looking forward to seeing is Moore, the rookie from Tennessee. Moore has had a solid training camp, making tough catches in traffic and showing off his speed.
It also will be Campbell's first game with Boss, who replaces former Pro Bowler Zach Miller at tight end.
Miller was a favorite target of Campbell in 2010, and Boss figures to be one, too.
"I think (Campbell is) going to be a great quarterback,"
Boss said. "I think he already is a good quarterback. I'm looking forward to playing with him for sure."
Tonight's success probably shouldn't be measured by the scoreboard – rather by how Campbell keeps the offense flowing with so many new pieces, including the offensive line. Gone is left guard Robert Gallery, who signed with Seattle as a free agent. Stepping in is rookie Stefan Wisniewski, who will compete for playing time at center and guard.
Jackson expects Campbell to do his job.
"That's what the pros do,"
Jackson said. "That's what the great ones do. I'm expecting Jason to be great, and I think he will be. That's part of his job. His job is to lead a group, and they're going to follow him."
