Raiders Do an Okie-Dokie, May Put Williams Back in the Lineup

Dokie Williams, the unhappy but productive Raider bomb squadder-wide receiver may be headed back into the starting lineup.

Tom Flores said Wednesday that Mervyn Fernandez, the big-money signee from Canada who was given Williams’ job at season’s start, has a sore shoulder and that Williams may start.

Flores had also said recently, however, that Williams and Jessie Hester will play more “to keep our wide receivers fresh.”

Williams played most of the second halves at Minnesota and San Diego, after Fernandez couldn’t catch a pass in the end zone against the Vikings and fumbled following a reception against the Chargers. Williams caught touchdown passes in both games. Despite his limited playing time, he leads the wide receivers with four touchdown catches.

Williams had asked to be traded. When Al Davis told him that if he insisted, he’d send him somewhere snowy, Williams decided not to press the point.

Fernandez has 14 catches, an average of 16.9 yards a reception and no touchdowns.

Is he a disappointment?

“Mervyn has played well,” Flores said. “But obviously there are some things he has to adjust to--the jamming and the complexities of the defenses. Those are all new to him.”