NAPA, Calif. -- A daily review of the hot topics coming out of Oakland Raiders training camp:
Kelechi Osemele, who sat out Sunday’s first padded practice of camp for undisclosed reasons, returned Monday. He had his left calf wrapped but did not seem hampered. Jon Feliciano was in Osemele’s spot Sunday and spelled center Rodney Hudson at times with the first unit on Monday. “As you go through the season, you always have to have versatility,” coach Jack Del Rio said. “Jon’s taking snaps at guard, center. He’s matured, his body, he’s matured in terms of strength and fitness and understanding what we’re doing. I think Jon’s off to a nice start with camp. Anytime somebody is nicked or anything happens where he misses time, other guys get opportunity. That’s usually good for you. Good for the team, good for the guy that gets that opportunity to take advantage of it.”
Bruce Irvin said in OTAs that he was not signed by Oakland to be a follower. Indeed, he’s bringing a certain edge to practice as he was involved in two minor skirmishes on Monday. First, he tweaked tight end Lee Smith, who had to be led away. And then running back Taiwan Jones took exception to a hit from Irvin. Both players had to be separated.
The first true camp fight, though, came between receiver Johnny Holton and cornerback Kenneth Durden, two players trying to stick to the roster. As one observer noted, it was like a hockey fight as players let them duke it out for a bit until they fell to the ground. No harm, no foul, right?
While Dan Williams and Justin Ellis often played next to each other last season on the interior line of a Raiders base 4-3 defense, Del Rio essentially said they are now competing for the same job. And Williams, who started 15 of 16 games last season, was on a side field when the starters were working against each other. “Thus far, we as a staff think that Jelly is ahead of Dan, but we’re a long way from lining it up in September,” Del Rio said. “They’re all going to play. It’s just a matter of who gets to trot out first, but they’re all going to play.”
Taiwan Jones, the incumbent kick returner, was joined in returning kicks by rookie running backs DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard and rookie receivers Jaydon Mickens and Joe Hansley.
Yes, the Raiders were in pads but they still were not hitting all that hard. If so, tight end Ryan O’Malley would have been wrecked by safety Brynden Trawick on a pass over the middle from Connor Cook. Trawick celebrated the play by kicking the ball back toward the offense. So, there.
Matt McCants spelled Donald Penn at left tackle late in practice.
Mack and Irvin combined on an impressive “sack” of Derek Carr late in practice near the goal line, the bookends collapsing the pocket with aplomb.
The Raiders are off Tuesday and return Wednesday with practice from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. PT.
A few Tweets from Monday’s training camp practice:
NHRA Top Fuel dragster Leah Pritchett is a guest at Raiders training camp today. She... https://t.co/nFbWBvI1DX pic.twitter.com/PW8XBDYptf
— Paul Gutierrez (@PGutierrezESPN) August 1, 2016
Khalil Mack prepares to give Bruce Irvin a good morning pop. https://t.co/9ThJvMzoyM pic.twitter.com/3VqAxVBGbR
— Paul Gutierrez (@PGutierrezESPN) August 1, 2016
Sean Smith cradles the ball in drills. https://t.co/pdMQvqzrQp pic.twitter.com/qbYdBwkjUq
— Paul Gutierrez (@PGutierrezESPN) August 1, 2016
"I think it's going to be a really good group, but it takes time to get together..,we... https://t.co/OmqPRKpDgQ pic.twitter.com/Zt2dFWd4Vx
— Paul Gutierrez (@PGutierrezESPN) August 1, 2016
NHRA Funny Car driver and longtime Raiders fan Cruz Pedregon was a guest at Raiders camp... https://t.co/JqjuYwJR6z pic.twitter.com/qvnzTs19G4
— Paul Gutierrez (@PGutierrezESPN) August 2, 2016
