NAPA, Calif . -- A daily review of the hot topics coming out of Oakland Raiders training camp:
Oakland Raiders first-round draft pick Karl Joseph has only sat out one of 10 camp practices thus far -- last Thursday -- but said Tuesday he would not be surprised if he did not play in the Raiders' exhibition opener at the Arizona Cardinals on Friday. "We've still got a couple of days," Joseph, who tore the ACL in his right knee last fall at West Virginia, told reporters after practice. "It's nothing to worry about … the goal is to be ready for Sundays. I definitely would like to get some preseason action but it's going to be a day-to-day thing to see how the knee's feeling." Indeed, on Friday, Joseph, the No. 14 overall pick, told ESPN.com that his knee was not "100 percent yet" and that he was "not trying to beat myself up too bad before the season starts." Still Joseph has been running with the first team defense and did not look limited.
Defensive end Mario Edwards Jr., who seemingly hurt his right hand punching left guard Kelechi Osemele in the helmet during a practice fight on Saturday, had the hand heavily wrapped but did not participate in team drills. And after Stacy McGee took his reps with the first-team defense on Sunday, Denico Autry was getting run with the starters on Tuesday, next to rookie Jihad Ward.
Tuesday marked the seventh practice in nine days in which they worked in full pads. "They are definitely ready to see another team," coach Jack Del Rio said of the doldrums after 10 camp practices, with an exhibition opener at the Cardinals three days away.
Receiver Amari Cooper is starting to get the better of cornerback David Amerson, who had been winning what Cooper called a "chess match" early in camp. On a deep pass down the left sideline, Cooper beat Amerson with a perfectly-timed leap and catch. Later, Michael Crabtree hauled in a deep throw when he lost Amerson on a double-move and then blew by Joseph for a touchdown.
Cooper was flagged for offensive pass interference when he pushed off safety Chris Edwards on the right sideline. … Rookie linebacker Cory James had the most acrobatic interception of camp thus far, twisting midway with both feet off the ground to grab a Matt McGloin pass before it could get to Gabe Holmes. … Recent signee Tramain Jacobs picked off rookie Connor Cook on a pass to K.J. Brent. ... Derek Carr was picked off in the end zone by Amerson on an overthrown pass to Clive Walford from the 25-yard line. ... Sebastian Janikowski drilled a 52-yard field goal through the narrow, Arena League-style uprights, after drilling the right upright from about 40 yards out. ... Ward batted down a Carr pass at the line of scrimmage in a hurry-up drill. ... Linebacker Neiron Ball and receiver Marvin Hall did not practice.
Some Tweets from Tuesday's training camp practice:
TJ Carrie stretches for the ball in warm ups. The ball ended up hitting the ground. https://t.co/Vqw7hU2JAW pic.twitter.com/6my4CmZ2te
— Paul Gutierrez (@PGutierrezESPN) August 9, 2016
#Raiders get their calisthenics on in Napa. pic.twitter.com/IRmNC12sn5
— Paul Gutierrez (@PGutierrezESPN) August 9, 2016
James Cowser locks up with Bruce Irvin. https://t.co/n9lYWeRzqd pic.twitter.com/ApkdEogPur
— Paul Gutierrez (@PGutierrezESPN) August 9, 2016
Jaydon Mickens looks the ball in from the JUGS machine after practice on Tuesday. https://t.co/Dtacx6vdrL pic.twitter.com/EtBbDGWuHK
— Paul Gutierrez (@PGutierrezESPN) August 9, 2016
#Raiders RB George Atkinson III works on ball security... pic.twitter.com/XGLsHU3TEx
— Paul Gutierrez (@PGutierrezESPN) August 9, 2016
The Raiders return to practice on Wednesday at 11 a.m. PT with an off day scheduled for Thursday.
