The San Francisco Chronicle's Vic Tafur observed at OTAs that RB-turned-CB Taiwan Jones will face a "steep uphill climb" to make the Raiders' 2013 roster.

Jones has enough size and speed for the transition, but he's a huge project as a third-year player already changing positions. We don't see Jones as a member of Oakland's five-deep at cornerback. He may not even make it to camp.

GM Reggie McKenzie says Taiwan Jones will likely move from running back to cornerback this season.

McKenzie says it best fits Jones' "skill set." Jones played both positions early during his college career at Eastern Washington, but he hasn't played corner since 2008. Jones couldn't get on the field last year as a running back, even when Oakland was banged up in the backfield. The transition will be a huge project.

Raiders RB Taiwan Jones says he'd be open to switching back to his college position of cornerback.

"I've thought about it a lot," Jones said Friday. Jones is buried at No. 4 on the Raiders' running back depth chart, but has excelled as a gunner on special teams. Although the lightning-quick Jones believes he could hold his own at corner, the odds of a potential switch being successful are low. Of course, Jones' future at corner doesn't appear any more dismal than his future at running back. The 2011 fourth-round pick has just 22 carries in 21 career games.

Taiwan Jones (ankle) is listed as questionable for Week 12 against the Bengals.

Jones was a late addition to the injury report this week and practiced on limited basis Friday. If active, he'll be used as a strict-backup to Marcel Reece. Darren McFadden (ankle) and Mike Goodson have been ruled out and remain without a timetable for return.

Taiwan Jones rushed just three times for 13 yards in Sunday's Week 11 loss to the Saints.

Jones briefly left the game in the first half with an ankle injury but returned and seemed fine. Jeremy Stewart saw two carries as well behind bell-cow back Marcel Reece. Jones is far from seeing meaningful snaps in Oakland.

Raiders OC Greg Knapp clarified that Taiwan Jones' ball-security issues have involved practice reps.

Jones sometimes has trouble with handoffs in practice -- even without contact. The coaches are looking for improvement before entrusting Jones to a significant role on game days.

Following Sunday's loss to the Ravens, coach Dennis Allen admitted that he doesn't trust Taiwan Jones.

Jones played behind both Marcel Reece and Jeremy Stewart Sunday. "We have to know when he goes into the game, he's going to know what to do and he's going to protect the football and he's got to be able to stay healthy ... as he improves those things, he'll get more playing time," Allen said. To Jones' credit, he didn't complain or sulk. "It's my job to earn their trust," he said. It's unlikely the speedy Jones will be able to do that before next week's game against the Saints.

Taiwan Jones rushed just twice for six yards and caught a seven-yard screen pass in the Raiders' Week 10 loss to Baltimore.

Both coach Dennis Allen and OC Greg Knapp stated publicly that Jones wasn't trusted by the coaching staff leading up to the Week 10 game, so it really shouldn't surprise anyone that his role was so minimal. The fact that he only got two touches and was a third-stringer behind Marcel Reece and Jeremy Stewart was telling. Hang onto Jones to see what happens as we proceed toward Week 11 against the Saints, but it's hard to imagine reinserting him into fantasy lineups.

CSN Bay Area's Paul Gutierrez expects Taiwan Jones to be the "bell cow" in Baltimore this week with FB Marcel Reece playing primarily in passing situations.

It may be the first and last time we ever see "bell cow" and "Taiwan Jones" in the same sentence. Coordinator Greg Knapp attributes Jones' limited early-season role to "ball security and assignments," noting that injuries have limited his practice reps so far. "But I'm excited for the young kid. I hope he gets a chance to get in there and get some successful plays to build his confidence," said Knapp. "He's one of the fastest I've been around. He has that ability to burst and separate right away. That trait is obviously not coachable." Jones has split first-team reps with Marcel Reece this week.

After stating early in the week that Taiwan Jones' ball-security issues were a concern, coach Dennis Allen insists the Raiders have "confidence" in the expected Week 10 starter.

"He's been a little up and down and a little injury-plagued, so it's been kind of tough to evaluate because he's missed some time," Allen said. "But ... if he's called on to step in and play, then we fully anticipate him stepping in to perform and do the job." Carson Palmer confirmed that Jones will "get his touches and I can't wait. He's so electrifying. He puts his foot in the ground and goes." Jones and Marcel Reece split first-team reps on Thursday. Jones will be bumped into the top-30 in Rotoworld's Week 10 rankings.