Training camp report: Aug. 18, 2013

Originally published on SBReport.net on Aug. 18, 2013

The Raiders returned to the practice field on Sunday, not wearing pads after their 28-20 loss to the Saints on Friday.

The practice was the first in which rookie cornerback D.J. Hayden was cleared for full contact, but the team being without pads will mean the young corner will have to wait another day to get his first hit.

Hayden is okay with that, staying content with just being on the field after suffering a near-death injury at the University of Houston last season.

“I’m happy to practice,” Hayden said after practice. “As long as I’m out there, I’m good.”

Hayden is expected to see his first game-time action when the Raiders host the Chicago Bears on Friday for their third week of preseason.

Starting quarterback Matt Flynn struggled for much of the day and had a string of three consecutive plays with a turnover.

Flynn threw an ugly pass that was picked off by Mike Jenkins, then on the next play, linebacker Kaelin Burnett was able to intercept Flynn’s pass. On the third play, Flynn dropped back and fumbled the ball as a defender got his hand in there to knock the ball away.

Terrelle Pryor was able to find some success on the field today and looked better than Flynn for the day. Pryor came in after Flynn’s mishaps and dropped in a perfect pass to Brice Butler who was running down the middle of the field.

Meanwhile, rookie quarterbacks Tyler Wilson and Matt McGloin didn’t see any snaps during team drills. Head coach Dennis Allen attributed this to being on a game-week schedule.

Though they were without pads, the defense was able to provide some pass rush on the quarterbacks with defensive ends Andre Carter and Lamarr Houston supplying the pressure. The Raiders will need to keep building a pass rush after seeing little of it on Friday against the Saints. New Orleans quarterback Drew Brees routinely had plenty of time to locate an open receiver against the Raiders defense.

Starting running back Darren McFadden remained out with a shoulder injury after leaving Friday’s game early. Allen believes McFadden will be okay and sees the injury as minor.

“We limited him some today, but I don’t think it’s anything serious. I expect for him to be fine,” Allen said of his running back.

With Mike Brisiel still out with his ankle injury, Allen tried a combination of Lucas Nix at right guard and Tony Bergstrom at left guard. Veteran Andre Gurode was previously playing as the starting right guard, but today was working as the second-team center, replacing Alex Parsons.

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