ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Leon Orr has been played one NFL game, yet Ken Norton has a high expectations.
Norton, the Oakland Raiders’ defensive coordinator, said Thursday he thinks the defensive tackle can become a “major impact” player.
The Raiders promoted Orr from the practice squad last Friday, and he played significant snaps in Oakland’s 15-12 upset win at Denver on Sunday.
“I know I wasn’t just going to Denver for the flight,” Orr said. “Once I was promoted, I knew I was going to have a role.”
It’s been a long road for Orr. He was dismissed from the Florida team during his senior season. That, of course, killed his draft hopes. Yet, Orr is highly athletic and he was sought after as an undrafted free agent. Orr showed some flashes during training camp and in the preseason, but he didn’t make the 53-man roster. He toiled on the practice squad for three months.
“It’s been a journey,” Orr said. “But I really appreciate the road I’ve taken and it’s made me a better person. I really appreciate this opportunity.”
According to Norton, Orr’s journey may just be starting.
In other Raiders notes:
• Starting safety Nate Allen did not practice Thursday after working on a limited basis Wednesday. He missed Sunday’s win at Denver with a knee injury. Right tackle Austin Howard missed his second straight day with a knee injury that forced him to leave the Denver game in the third quarter. If Howard doesn’t play Sunday against Green Bay, Oakland offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave said, the Raiders could make some position moves. One possibility is to have J’Marcus Webb move from right guard to right tackle and insert fourth-round pick Jon Feliciano at right guard. It would be Feliciano’s first start. Or the Raiders could stick with Khalif Barnes at right tackle. He finished the game for Howard.
• Pass-rusher Khalil Mack (knee) and receiver Amari Cooper (foot) were limited Thursday after taking Wednesday’s practice off.
• The Raiders re-signed Josh Shirley to the practice squad. He was on the practice squad earlier in the season and spent time on Tampa Bay’s 53-man roster this season as well. The Raiders have him listed as a defensive end. He previously was listed as a linebacker.
