NAPA, Calif. -- A daily review of the hot topics coming out of Oakland Raiders training camp:
Left guard Kelechi Osemele is known for having a nasty disposition, so it was no surprise he would be involved in a camp dustup. But after being involved in a pair of fights with defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. early in Saturday’s practice, the two were kicked out of practice by coach Jack Del Rio. Jon Feliciano took Osemele’s place with the first-string offense, while Stacy McGee replaced Edwards. The first fight came in 11-on-11’s, on a long pass play down the right sideline from Derek Carr to Michael Crabtree that fell incomplete, but on which David Amerson was called for pass interference. Osemele and Edwards fell to the ground and with Edwards on top of Osemele, Edwards punched him in the helmet. Minutes later, in a line drill, Osemele and Edwards purportedly squared up again and that was that, though Edwards was later seen with an ice pack on his right hand.
After going in helmets and shells on Friday, following four straight padded practices in five days, the Raiders returned to full pads on Saturday.
Running back/kick returner Taiwan Jones, who sat out two straight days of practice with what appeared to be a right leg injury, returned for the start of practice but did not finish. Also, defensive lineman Leon Orr missed his third straight practice for undisclosed reasons.
Linebacker John Lotulelei returned to the second- and third-team defensive units on Saturday after going with the "ones" on Friday, when he was in for Malcolm Smith at the Will spot. Lotulelei said playing with the first-string defense actually allowed him to be more at ease, since there is so much more talent surrounding him. “I don’t let that pressure affect me or get nervous because I know I have a better chance of making plays,” he said.
Amari Cooper got the better of Amerson on a catch in which his back was to the cornerback before he planted his right food, spun to the left and took off down the right sideline for a big gain. … Antonio Hamilton returned a kickoff for a touchdown down the right side, until you noticed the yellow flag dropped in the end zone by the official. … The prettiest catch of practice was turned in by Seth Roberts, who pulled in the pass dropped in from Matt McGloin, in between Neiko Thorpe and Keith McGill. … Chris Hackett had an interception off Connor Cook on a ball that bounded off Max McCaffrey ... a group of 50 Special Olympics athletes and chaperones were guests of the Raiders.
The Raiders practice Sunday from 11 a.m.-1:30 p.m. PT.
Some Tweets from Saturday’s training camp practice:
Practice No. 8 of #Raiders training camp is underway. pic.twitter.com/en0jlovvEC
— Paul Gutierrez (@PGutierrezESPN) August 6, 2016
Seth Roberts with the Ghost to the Post-like over-the-shoulder grab. https://t.co/mI33QoKdib pic.twitter.com/EAvYAKb5SG
— Paul Gutierrez (@PGutierrezESPN) August 6, 2016
"It's a competition...it's like a heavyweight championship fight." - ST coach Brad... https://t.co/8jtSXz71j0 pic.twitter.com/ddxkQpe21J
— Paul Gutierrez (@PGutierrezESPN) August 6, 2016
LB John Lotulelei picks the brain of RB Jalen Richard on some blitz pickups. https://t.co/pIrLrUqAjj pic.twitter.com/4UtupXyfUD
— Paul Gutierrez (@PGutierrezESPN) August 6, 2016
"Oh, man, I didn't realize that. Now you're making me feel old." - Sebastian Janikowski,... https://t.co/nPPrtre2iK pic.twitter.com/fyer36ZOuO
— Paul Gutierrez (@PGutierrezESPN) August 6, 2016
ICYMI, nobody epitomized the badass #Raiders of the 1970s like @TheKenStabler, @ESPN_NFLNation. No one: https://t.co/6iFxqzdwPk
— Paul Gutierrez (@PGutierrezESPN) August 6, 2016
#Raiders @coachdelrio remembers a "different era" with #KenStabler and #JohnMadden, @RAIDERS https://t.co/FzP0nmuO6c
— Paul Gutierrez (@PGutierrezESPN) August 6, 2016
