rgdal error when trying to import raster

Dear useRs,

I am trying to import a raster with the line:

nlcd <- raster("/home/jpolo/NRI/nlcd_nri5000.tif")

And I keep getting an error like this:

"Warning message:
In library(package, lib.loc = lib.loc, character.only = TRUE, 
logical.return = TRUE,? :
 ? there is no package called 'rgdal'
Error in .rasterObjectFromFile(x, band = band, objecttype = 
"RasterLayer",? :
 ? Cannot create RasterLayer object from this file; perhaps you need to 
install rgdal first
Calls: raster -> raster -> .local -> .rasterObjectFromFile
Execution halted"

This is the session info:

"R version 3.2.5 (2016-04-14)
Platform: x86_64-pc-linux-gnu (64-bit)
Running under: CentOS release 6.3 (Final)

locale:
[1] C

attached base packages:
[1] methods?? stats???? graphics? grDevices utils datasets? base

other attached packages:
[1] raster_2.5-8 sp_1.2-4???? rgeos_0.3-23

loaded via a namespace (and not attached):
[1] Rcpp_0.12.10??? grid_3.2.5????? lattice_0.20-35 "

I know the R version is old, but this is a system that I can not update, 
I have no control over it. Because the version of R is old, the admin 
told me that they cannot install rgdal. I am not using library(rgdal) 
and none of the other libraries that are loaded require rgdal. The 
package raster does suggest it though. Is that causing the problem? Is 
there a way to avoid this? Any help is welcome.

best,

John