Oakland Raiders

The Dallas Cowboys will quietly enter the post-Terrell Owens era at the Oakland Coliseum on Thursday night, when they visit the Raiders in the opening preseason salvo for both teams.

The Cowboys made headlines when they dumped the probable Hall of Fame receiver during the spring, ending a three-year chapter in which Owens garnered as much attention for his off-field antics as for his play.

A much-publicized feud with quarterback Tony Romo, tight end Jason Witten and offensive coordinator Jason Garrett was apparently the last straw for the receiver, who subsequently signed with the Buffalo Bills after being dropped by Dallas.

The absence of Owens will make the spotlight brighter on the remaining pieces of the Dallas offense, in particular new No. 1 wide receiver Roy Williams.

Williams posted a disappointing 19 catches for 198 yards and one touchdown after being acquired in a blockbluster trade with Detroit last October, and his early chemistry with Romo will be among the main storylines of the Cowboys' preseason efforts.

Romo, Witten, Williams and the rest of the Dallas first-string Dallas is expected to play only limited minutes on Thursday night, in keeping with first-game-of-preseason tradition.

On the injury front for Dallas, cornerbacks Terence Newman (groin), Mike Jenkins (ankle), running back Felix Jones (toe) and tight end Martellus Bennett (knees) are among the notables who will be either out or limited on Thursday.

For the Raiders, meanwhile, the big storyline will be the play of quarterback JaMarcus Russell.

Russell, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2007 Draft, has been inconsistent during his time in Oakland and could need a strong showing to secure the No. 1 job following the offseason signing off of four-time Pro Bowler Jeff Garcia.

Garcia, the 39-year-old veteran who will be playing for his sixth team in the past seven years, is not expected to play on Thursday due to a calf problem. The journeyman started 74 games as a member of the San Francisco 49ers from 1999 through 2003.

Ex-Brown and Seahawk Charlie Frye is expected to succeed Russell in the lineup.

Both quarterbacks will be looking to develop some early chemistry with wide receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey, who the Raiders surprisingly made the No. 7 overall pick in the April draft.

In addition to Garcia, tackle Khalif Barnes (ankle), guard Robert Gallery (appendectomy), and wide receiver Javon Walker (knee) will miss the preseason opener.

Expected to be in uniform, however, is defensive end Greg Ellis, who joined the Raiders this past offseason after playing 11 years in Dallas.

Oakland holds a 16-9 edge in the preseason series with Dallas, though the Cowboys won the most recent such meeting between the clubs, a 21-20 affair in the Bay Area prior to the 2004 campaign.

The teams will also meet up for a meaningful contest on Nov. 26, when the Raiders visit Big D for a Thanksgiving Day matchup.