Derek Carr, other Raiders stars likely done playing preseason games
Oakland Raiders' Jon Gruden says starters like Derek Carr will be "very limited" over next two preseason games
NAPA — Did you see quarterback Derek Carr behind center early in the Raiders’ preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals?
It may have been the last time he and other surefire Raiders starters take the field in a game until the Sept. 9 opener against the Denver Broncos.
With an eye on keeping his marquee players as healthy as possible, coach Jon Gruden said Saturday after the team’s morning walk-through that certain offensive and defensive starters will mostly be kept out action until the regular season begins next month.
That means few, if any, snaps in games for Carr or running back Josh Jacobs when the Raiders play the Green Bay Packers on Thursday in Winnipeg, Manitoba and in Seattle against the Seahawks on Aug. 29.
“There’s going to be some guys that are vying and competing to become starters,” Gruden said. “But some of the front line guys will probably be very limited in the next two weeks.”
There may also be questions about the artificial playing surface at IG Field in Winnipeg, a 33,000-seat stadium that opened in 2013 and hosts the Winnipeg Blue Bombers of the Canadian Football League and other events.
The Packers may play quarterback Aaron Rodgers in the game, although Rodgers was held out of Green Bay’s game Thursday against Baltimore because of a back injury.
“We’re going to go play a home game in Canada. Haven’t done that before,” Gruden said. “We’re looking into the surface that we’re playing on and we’re not sure how much we’re going to play our starters. We don’t have 22 starters in ink yet, either.”
Against the Cardinals, Carr played just one possession, marching the Raiders 75 yards in six plays, ending with a 13-yard touchdown pass to an open Ryan Grant. Also in one drive, Jacobs’ totaled 21 yards on four carries before he sat out the rest of the game.
On defense, most projected Raiders starters exited the game after Cardinals quarterback Kyler Murray was replaced by Brett Hundley.
“We’ll see,” Carr said when asked if he’ll play again in the preseason. “Like (Gruden) always says, he makes us prepare for literally every situation, and then he’ll tell us right beforehand. Honestly, we find more stuff out after he talks to (the media).”
Gruden said all the team will be making the trip north of the border this week after the team breaks camp.
“We’re planning on having a good experience in Winnipeg,” Gruden said. “I’ve never been there. I don’t think some of our players have been to Winnipeg, so we’re planning on taking everybody.”
MORE ON JACOBS
Gruden said Saturday that Jacobs has shown his versatility throughout camp but that the team wasn’t sure about turning “the whole enchilada” over to him just yet. Jacobs was drafted this year with the idea of him becoming the Raiders’ feature back, but still faces a steep learning curve in picking up Gruden’s complex offense.
“We feel like (Jalen) Richard is special to us and DeAndré Washington is healthy. He’s had a great camp,” Gruden said. “In the past, we’ve used two halfbacks at a time. We’ve had three running backs in a game together. The question is how many fullbacks, how many halfbacks, how many backs will we keep? It’ll be a challenge for us.”
ANTONIO BROWN MAKES PROGRESS
Receiver Antonio Brown participated in Saturday morning’s walk-though and appears to be nearing a return to a full practice after dealing with frostbite in his feet. Brown looked close to normal Thursday in pregame warmups in Arizona.
The Raiders are scheduled to practice Sunday and Monday in Napa before they break camp, although last season, they cancelled the final practice before the end of camp.
“He came in and (had) no mental errors, and in this offense, that’s not easy to do,” Carr said of Brown. “You could tell Antonio’s been studying because he didn’t miss a beat.”
TRANSACTIONS
The Raiders re-signed free agent guard/center Cameron Hunt, who spent the offseason program with the team. He was also on Oakland’s active roster for the final three games of 2018. The move gives the Raiders added experience at center after Jordan Devey, who was backing up Rodney Hudson, was moved to right guard following the injury to Gabe Jackson. The only other center on the depth chart is rookie Andre James.
In a corresponding move, the Raiders waived WR Jordan Lasley. Additionally, guard/tackle Denzelle Good passed his physical and has returned to practice.
Gruden said Good, coming off back surgery, was taken off the PUP list and took about 25 snaps in the morning walk-through. “That’s huge for us,” Gruden said, considering the Raiders will be without Richie Incognito for two games to start the season and Jackson’s knee injury will keep him out for roughly two months.
HOMECOMING FOR WILLSON (SORT OF)
Thursday’s game is an opportunity for tight end Luke Wilson to play in his native country for the first time since high school. Willson grew up in Windsor, Ontario, a neighboring city of Detroit, but played college football at Rice and was with the Seahawks from 2013-2017.
Willson said he has never been to Winnipeg, which is about an 1,100-mile drive from Windsor.
“Nor will I have any friends or family there, so a little bit of the nostalgia of going back home is gone with that sort of stuff,” Willson said. “But all in all, I am excited to kind of go back. I’ll also probably be the first guy through customs, so that will be kind of cool. Get a seat on the bus and stuff.”
WILLSON ON HARD KNOCKS
Willson was asked about the experience he’s had working with NFL Films as they shoot “Hard Knocks” with the Raiders in camp.
“They framed me, man. They framed me. It really hurt my heart,” Willson said. “Some other (Cardinals) guy got hit by (Raiders safety Johnathan) Abram, and it wasn’t me, and I got my boys blasting me, asking me why I got blown up when it wasn’t me.
“And then they zoomed to a clip of me talking, and I wasn’t even talking to John Abram, but now they made it seem like that. So, I’m over here getting crucified by my boys back home over something that didn’t even happen. So, other than that, the Hard Knocks guys have been great. But apparently, it’s pick on the Canadian in Hard Knocks.”