Raiders notes: Ford more scared than anything after tweaking knee

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NAPA -- With the way Jacoby Ford went down in a heap midway through Monday's opening non-contact practice of training camp, and how long the speedy receiver stayed down while grasping at his left knee, it was easy to think the worst.All he had done was attempt to plant and cut upfield when the sod and his knee both gave.But after walking off under his own power and talking with a trainer, Ford hustled back on the field and started fielding punts with Denarius Moore and finished practiced."I am fine," Ford said after practice. "I was scared more than anything. But I finished practice fine."RELATED: Jacoby Fords statssplitsgame logs
A year ago, Ford was slowed in camp by a broken hand. Then hamstring and foot injuries limited him to TK games last year. So going down on the first day of camp was cause for worry.Still, the electric-as-he-is-diminutive kick returner -- he has four career kickoff returns for touchdowns -- plans at seeing time returning punts, along with Moore."Its definitely something that is going to help us out a lot, having either both of us back there or alternating it in case he wants to go and then if I want to go," Ford said. "It gives us two explosive options back there. Were definitely both excited about it looking to whenever we have a chance to go out and prove ourselves."Ron Bartell was signed to help shore up the Raiders' questions at cornerback. So to have to sit out the first day with a hamstring issue might have hurt more than any injury."Its frustrating, its frustrating," Bartell said. "But it could be a lot more frustrating if I pull it and Im in and out of the lineup. I just appreciate them being patient with me and allowing me to get healthy. Its frustrating, but its one of those things that Ive got to kind of monitor and just take it from there."Bartell said he tweaked the hamstring, "doing some one-on-ones, some running and kind of tugged it" last week.Remember, this is a guy coming back from a broken neck."This is very minor," he said of the hamstring. "After dealing with what I had to go through last year, this is no big deal for me. Were going to keep treating it. When Im healthy enough to be out there, Ill be out there."Mike Mitchell, on the vibe at camp without the late Al Davis: "Its a little sad for me because obviously he meant so much to me. He changed me and my entire familys life forever so theres a lot of loyalty. To me, Im a very loyal guy so theres a lot of sadness with that but Mr Davis is still here in a way. Mark took over, thats his son, I still got the same loyalty for him. Hes still here, hes still in our hearts."The new regime, they havent forgotten about Mr. Davis. We still talk about the commitment to excellence, just winning, you know. Those things still carry over. His legacy will not be forgotten and like I said we got a lot of players that have been here with him so were all carrying him in our hearts as well."Mitchell, who was nagged by a knee injury all of last season but says he is now 100 percent healthy, also has a new role on special teams, replacing Rock Cartwright as the punter's personal protector.Adam Caplan of thesidelineview.com reported the Raiders placing Bartell and punter Shane Lechler (knee) on the activeNon-Football Injury list. The team has yet to announce anything regarding the two.The Raiders practice Tuesday at 2:20 p.m.

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