technical details
  1. is_video => true
  2. alias => "bayarea\/\/raiders\/derek-carr-raiders-frontline-starters-might-be-done-playing-preseason"
  3. nid => "470531"
  4. title => "Derek Carr, Raiders' frontline starters might be done playing in preseason"
  5. is_chrome_page => false
  6. article_body => "<p>NAPA \u2013 Derek Carr has said he doesn\u2019t need much preseason work to prepare for games that actually count.<\/p>\n<p>That\u2019s a plus for the Raiders quarterback. One drive might be all he gets.<\/p>\n<p>Head coach Jon Gruden said his surefire starters might be done playing in the preseason, even with two exhibitions left.<\/p>\n<p>The preseason finale\u2019s never played by major contributors. The third preseason game often represents the most extensive action starters see, but that might not be the case Thursday against the Green Bay Packers in Winnipeg at IG&nbsp;Field. The venue has artificial turf, and houses a CFL team and a professional soccer club, with both franchises currently in season.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re looking into the surface that we\u2019re playing on, and we\u2019re not sure how much we\u2019re going to play our starters,\u201d Gruden said on Saturday. \u201cWe don\u2019t have 22 starters in ink yet, either. There are going to be guys vying to become starters, but some of the frontline guys will be very limited in the next two weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>That includes Carr, running back Josh Jacobs and receiver Antonio Brown, just returning after suffering frostbite on his feet. The starting Raiders <a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/bayarea\/raiders\/raiders-derek-carr-josh-jacobs-carve-cardinals-preseason-cameo\">offense was efficient<\/a> in Thursday\u2019s win over Arizona, quickly scoring a touchdown on its only drive. The top defense played four series and<a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/bayarea\/raiders\/raiders-lamarcus-joyner-happy-disrupt-cardinals-pretty-boy-offense\"> shut the Cardinals down<\/a>, getting in quality work as a unit.<\/p>\n<p>If the playing surface in Winnipeg is a cause for concern, expect Gruden to play it safe with his roster\u2019s best.<\/p>\n<p>Preserving health in the preseason was underscored by Friday news that the Chargers lost Derwin James for at least three months. The Raiders already are without right guard Gabe Jackson for the season\u2019s first quarter at least. They don\u2019t want to put any other big names at unnecessary risk.<\/p>\n<p>There\u2019s logic behind shutting Richie Incognito down in games, and backing him off some in first-team work. He has to serve a two-game suspension for violating the NFL\u2019s personal conduct policy, and the Raiders will start preparing his replacements for early-season action.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019ve seen him enough,\u201d Gruden said. \u201cHe\u2019s played enough football. I don\u2019t think we need to see him pull on power anymore. I think he\u2019s good.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>[<strong>RELATED: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/bayarea\/raiders\/what-has-impressed-derek-carr-most-about-raiders-rookie-josh-jacobs\">What has impressed Carr most about Raiders rookie Jaocbs<\/a>]<\/p>\n<p>Jonathan Cooper\u2019s the front runner to play left guard at this stage, though Denzelle Good (back) came off the physically unable to perform list Saturday and will challenge Cooper if he can get ramped up over the preseason\u2019s final few weeks.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWe\u2019re going to ease him back in,\u201d Gruden said. \u201cThat\u2019s huge for us. With Gabe injury and Richie\u2019s situation, it\u2019s good to have Denzelle close to returning.\u201d<\/p>\n"
  7. author => "Scott Bair"
  8. mps => {"author":"Scott Bair","league":"","sport":"","sponsor":""}
  9. published => "1566078240"
  10. created => "1566078445"
  11. changed => "1566133926"
  12. status => "1"
  13. hero_image_credit => "USATSI"
  14. tags => [{"tid":"4506","name":"Jon Gruden","url":"tags\/jon-gruden"},{"tid":"15881","name":"Josh Jacobs","url":"tags\/josh-jacobs"},{"tid":"13571","name":"Antonio Brown","url":"tags\/antonio-brown"},{"tid":"1136","name":"Derek Carr","url":"tags\/derek-carr"},{"tid":"1111","name":"Scott Bair","url":"tags\/scott-bair"},{"tid":"1016","name":"NFL","url":"tags\/nfl"},{"tid":"1101","name":"Oakland Raiders","url":"tags\/oakland-raiders"}]
  15. section => "Raiders"
  16. team => "Raiders"
  17. image => {"uri":"public:\/\/archive\/assets_article\/bayarea\/2019\/08\/17\/raider_preseason_gm_2_reax.jpg","alt":"raider_preseason_gm_2_reax.jpg","title":"Jon Gruden impressed with offense; 'excited' by Antonio Brown's progress"}
  18. video_url => "https:\/\/www.nbcsports.com\/bayarea\/video\/jon-gruden-impressed-offense-excited-antonio-browns-progress"
  19. is_mediaid => true
  20. mediaid => "S275YFIZrRWz"
  21. video_autoplay => true
  22. video_automute => false
  23. mpx_account_id => "BxmELC"
  24. player_id => "bayarea_article"
  25. chrome_data => "{\"league\":\"\",\"sport\":\"\",\"sponsor\":\"\"}"
  26. sponsor => ""
  27. region => "bayarea"
  28. fb_url => "https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/dialog\/share?app_id=304476467003440&href=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcsports.com%2Fbayarea%2Fraiders%2Fderek-carr-raiders-frontline-starters-might-be-done-playing-preseason&display=popup"
  29. tw_url => "https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=Derek%20Carr%2C%20Raiders%27%20frontline%20starters%20might%20be%20done%20playing%20in%20preseason&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcsports.com%2Fbayarea%2Fraiders%2Fderek-carr-raiders-frontline-starters-might-be-done-playing-preseason&original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcsports.com%2Fbayarea%2Fraiders%2Fderek-carr-raiders-frontline-starters-might-be-done-playing-preseason"
  30. mailto => "mailto:?subject=Derek%20Carr%2C%20Raiders%27%20frontline%20starters%20might%20be%20done%20playing%20in%20preseason&body=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.nbcsports.com%2Fbayarea%2Fraiders%2Fderek-carr-raiders-frontline-starters-might-be-done-playing-preseason"
  31. tags_hide => []
  32. type => "article"
  33. meta => {"file":"\/mnt\/gfs\/rsnunited\/sites\/default\/files\/archive\/article\/bayarea\/raiders\/derek-carr-raiders-frontline-starters-might-be-done-playing-preseason.json","assets":["public:\/\/archive\/assets_article\/bayarea\/2019\/08\/17\/raider_preseason_gm_2_reax.jpg"]}
  34. orig_image => {"uri":"public:\/\/2019\/08\/16\/raider_preseason_gm_2_reax.jpg","alt":"raider_preseason_gm_2_reax.jpg","title":"Jon Gruden impressed with offense; 'excited' by Antonio Brown's progress"}
  35. article_type => "article"
Raiders

Raiders

NAPA – Derek Carr has said he doesn’t need much preseason work to prepare for games that actually count.

That’s a plus for the Raiders quarterback. One drive might be all he gets.

Head coach Jon Gruden said his surefire starters might be done playing in the preseason, even with two exhibitions left.

The preseason finale’s never played by major contributors. The third preseason game often represents the most extensive action starters see, but that might not be the case Thursday against the Green Bay Packers in Winnipeg at IG Field. The venue has artificial turf, and houses a CFL team and a professional soccer club, with both franchises currently in season.

“We’re looking into the surface that we’re playing on, and we’re not sure how much we’re going to play our starters,” Gruden said on Saturday. “We don’t have 22 starters in ink yet, either. There are going to be guys vying to become starters, but some of the frontline guys will be very limited in the next two weeks.”

That includes Carr, running back Josh Jacobs and receiver Antonio Brown, just returning after suffering frostbite on his feet. The starting Raiders offense was efficient in Thursday’s win over Arizona, quickly scoring a touchdown on its only drive. The top defense played four series and shut the Cardinals down, getting in quality work as a unit.

 

If the playing surface in Winnipeg is a cause for concern, expect Gruden to play it safe with his roster’s best.

Preserving health in the preseason was underscored by Friday news that the Chargers lost Derwin James for at least three months. The Raiders already are without right guard Gabe Jackson for the season’s first quarter at least. They don’t want to put any other big names at unnecessary risk.

There’s logic behind shutting Richie Incognito down in games, and backing him off some in first-team work. He has to serve a two-game suspension for violating the NFL’s personal conduct policy, and the Raiders will start preparing his replacements for early-season action.

“We’ve seen him enough,” Gruden said. “He’s played enough football. I don’t think we need to see him pull on power anymore. I think he’s good.”

[RELATED: What has impressed Carr most about Raiders rookie Jaocbs]

Jonathan Cooper’s the front runner to play left guard at this stage, though Denzelle Good (back) came off the physically unable to perform list Saturday and will challenge Cooper if he can get ramped up over the preseason’s final few weeks.

“We’re going to ease him back in,” Gruden said. “That’s huge for us. With Gabe injury and Richie’s situation, it’s good to have Denzelle close to returning.”