NAPA, Calif . -- A daily review of the hot topics coming out of Oakland Raiders training camp:
First-round draft pick Karl Joseph, who missed the entire offseason on-field program while rehabbing the torn ACL in his right knee he suffered last fall at West Virginia but had made every practice of training camp, sat out practice Thursday. No reason was given and Joseph was seen working with a trainer in the team’s field house weight room. Coach Jack Del Rio is scheduled to speak on Friday.
With Joseph out, Dewey McDonald was given the first-team reps at strong safety. He knocked down a Hail Mary pass in the end zone from Matt McGloin at the end of practice.
Thursday’s fully padded practice -- their fourth straight in pads -- went nearly three hours and was the most physical yet. As such, a few dustups erupted. What started as a pushing match between left guard Kelechi Osemele and middle linebacker Ben Heeney eventually involved left tackle Donald Penn and outside linebacker Malcolm Smith; quarterback Derek Carr jumped in to play peacemaker. “I’m wearing red,” Carr said, “so they can’t hit me.”
The bigger brawl, though, came courtesy of undrafted rookie running back Jalen Richard and defensive end Damontre Moore, as the two took it to the ground and exchanged punches.
Other players to miss practice for undisclosed reasons: RB/KR Taiwan Jones, TE Clive Walford, DT Leon Orr, CB SaQwan Edwards and TE Colon Underwood.
David Amerson had a nice breakup of a pass to Michael Crabtree. … Amari Cooper got by Sean Smith on a crossing pattern but dropped a perfectly placed Carr pass. … DJ Hayden blocked a Girogio Tavecchio field-goal attempt and scooped up the ball and ran it in for a score.
Carr played reporter at the end of Khalil Mack’s media session at the podium by asking, “Who’s your favorite quarterback?” After pausing for a second, Mack smiled and replied, “Aaron Rodgers!” Without missing a beat, Carr said, “I like Von (Miller) too.”
The Raiders practice Friday from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m.
A few tweets from Thursday’s training camp practice:
Donald Penn and Sebastian Janikowski chop it up in stretch. https://t.co/ym3iMTBjh9 pic.twitter.com/hfZBeiLa2v
— Paul Gutierrez (@PGutierrezESPN) August 4, 2016
James Cowser and Stacy McGee work on the tip drill. https://t.co/LcKlAp5HNj pic.twitter.com/PpeSk6L29q
— Paul Gutierrez (@PGutierrezESPN) August 4, 2016
Time for a DB tip drill, too. https://t.co/BrheAkV8vs pic.twitter.com/ocettpLGdx
— Paul Gutierrez (@PGutierrezESPN) August 4, 2016
Sean Smith has no use for your tackling sled. https://t.co/n3f5dBrkff pic.twitter.com/CpOsLHuHvu
— Paul Gutierrez (@PGutierrezESPN) August 4, 2016
"The goal is to get to the playoffs, and win...the only thing you focus on now is the... https://t.co/PEqdgFI9YI pic.twitter.com/alUgw3JN1Z
— Paul Gutierrez (@PGutierrezESPN) August 4, 2016
#Raiders fans settle in for today's practice here in Napa, w/@drdre in the background. pic.twitter.com/djC7k95nnI
— Paul Gutierrez (@PGutierrezESPN) August 4, 2016
