Tag: Raiders training camp 2023

Raiders CB Nate Hobbs returns to practice after missing first week of training camp

Nate Hobbs and Marcus Peters took the field together for the first time.

Fresh off a day off on Sunday, the Raiders returned to practice for week two of training camp. And this time starting cornerback Nate Hobbs was with them. The standout slot cornerback hit the field for the first time this camp sporting a red non-contact jersey.

Hobbs had missed the first week of practice due to a head injury he suffered in a charity softball game just prior to the start of camp. It was never feared to be a serious injury, but clearly enough of an issue to keep him off the field for a week.

The red non-contact jersey will allow him to acclimate to the rigors of training camp considering he didn’t get to warm into it like his teammates did.

Speaking of teammates, he took the field alongside newly signed Marcus Peters for the first time. The two are the only sure starters on the roster, with the third starting cornerback job up for grabs with many suitors for the job. So, as of now, the unit looks the closest to what we will see come the regular season.

Raiders place DT Neil Farrell Jr on Non-Football Injury list

Second year DT Neil Farrell Jr heads to Non-Football Injury list

Among those not in attendance for the first day of Raiders training camp was defensive tackle Neil Farrell Jr.

The second-year lineman joins rookie first round pick defensive end Tyree Wilson on the NFI. While rookie DT Byron Young starts camp on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list.

Farrell appeared in nine games last season as a fourth round pick out of LSU. In those appearances he combined for 12 tackles and two QB hits.

With two DTs sidelined, players like second-year DT Matthew Butler, rookie seventh round pick Nesta Jade-Silvera, and newly re-signed Kyle Peko to move up the depth chart.

There are no surefire starting DTs on this team, making for somewhat of an open competition at the position. The projected starting rotation as of now is Bilal Nichols, John Jenkins, and Jerry Tillery.

If Neil Farrell hopes to make a jump in his second season, he will need to return to the practice field soon.

Jimmy Garoppolo already loving throwing to Davante Adams ‘he sees it very similar to a QB’

Day one and Jimmy G is already gushing about ‘luxury’ of throwing to Davante Adams ‘he sees it very similar to a QB’

Watching Davante Adams dominate defenders on the field, it’s easy to see what makes him special. He’s a supreme route runner, he’s long, he’s fast, and he can high-point the ball like few others can. 

Jimmy Garoppolo stepped on the practice field with his new All Pro receiver for the first time Tuesday and immediately recognized the kind of elite talent he had on the other end of his throws.

“It was cool, man,” Garoppolo said of working with Adams for the first time. “We came out in the same draft class. I always watched Davante, always thought he was one of the best in the league if not the best. It’s just as a quarterback it gives you a sense of relief almost to have a guy like that.”

“On one of the routes I threw him, I asked him if he was going full speed. Because he’s just so smooth, man, it looks effortless. I thought I overthrew him on one of the deep balls and he ended up getting to it. So, it was just things like that. It’s a luxury as a quarterback to have a guy like that. I just got to get used to it. It was really cool and I’m glad to have him.”

But what if I told you it’s more than just Adams’s talent that makes him great?

Davante isn’t just one of those ‘throw it up for me and I’ll go get it’ type of receivers. There’s a reason Aaron Rodgers threw to him an average of 142 times per season over their last six seasons together. It’s because Adams knows how to be a friendly receiver to his QB. Garoppolo discovered that as well.

“He sees it very similar to a quarterback which as a quarterback, makes you feel great,” Garroppolo continued.

“Most receivers just tell me the route they want to run and they run the route. He was kind of talking the talk and I was like ‘this guy is seeing what I’m seeing’. Just throw it early rather than later, just little things like that. It’s pretty cool, man. 

Garoppolo was sure not to get too far ahead of himself with any talk of chemistry, adding “We got a long way to go, me and him, but we’re off to a good start.”

But Adams is clearly one of those receivers who you know will get the most of out of his quarterback.

Nate Hobbs missed first day of Raiders training camp after taking softball off his head

Maxx Crosby sees Nate Hobbs’s talent as ‘limitless’. Just maybe not on the softball field.

This time last week, Nate Hobbs was all set for Raiders training camp. But over the weekend, he took part in a charity softball game along with some of his teammates and ended up taking one for the team. Literally.

“Yeah, I was just talking about him with the guys,” Maxx Crosby said of Hobbs with a laugh. “Nate Hobbs in like two innings, he ran through the fence, he hit a home run, he did a back flip and then took a pop fly off the top of his head. All in the matter of like ten minutes. So, I’m like this dude, he’s a little bit all over the place when it come to softball, so he’s got some work to do. But he’s talented.”

The beaning had Hobbs sit out the first day of camp Tuesday as he recovers.

The Raiders will be needing the talented slot cornerback this season. Hobbs had an outstanding rookie season in 2021 before the new coaching staff decided to move him all over the secondary last season.

Hobbs also missed six games with an injury. Crosby, who has been spending a lot of time with Hobbs this offseason, is eager to see his defensive teammate return to form this season.

“Nate’s obviously a great friend of mine. He’s an awesome dude,” said Crosby. “He’s relentless, he works hard. He’s young. He’s got a lot of room for improvement. He knows that, but I don’t put a limit on anybody. I think he could be a great player. There’s no doubt in my mind. I’ve seen him at his best and he’s scary, scary good.

“All I want from him is consistency. I want him to be the same guy every single day and keep getting better. He’s had some obstacles, some injuries, but he’s been working hard. I wish nothing but the best for him. I want him to be his best, I know he wants to be his best, but on a daily basis it’s just about being consistent. And as a young guy, that’s the hardest thing to do.

“For me I just try to bring him to a fight, I take him to a fight, we’re talking ball, talking life. Just trying to make him realize the potential and how great he can be. That’s what I try to instill in him. He’s always competing. We friggin shadow box everywhere we go. He’s one of those guys that’s constantly competing and that’s what makes him really special. Like I said, it’s limitless, his potential. He can be great.”

Just maybe Hobbs reserving his competitive energy the football field might be a solid plan.

Raiders training camp preview: New additions to 90-man roster

Raiders vets report to camp tomorrow. Here’s all the New additions to 90-man roster.

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Veterans report to Raiders training camp Tuesday. Among them will be a lot of new faces in Silver & Black. Here is the full list:

*denotes projected starter

Veteran free agents (20)

QB Jimmy Garoppolo*
QB Brian Hoyer
WR Jakobi Meyers*
WR DeAndre Carter
WR Phillip Dorsett
WR Cam Sims
WR Kristian Wilkerson
TE Austin Hooper
TE OJ Howard
G Greg Van Roten
DT John Jenkins
DE Jordan Willis
LB Robert Spillane*
CB Marcus Peters*
CB Duke Shelley*
CB David Long Jr
CB Brandon Facyson
S Marcus Epps*
S Jaquan Johnson
LS Jacob Bobenmoyer

Rookies (19)

DE Tyree Wilson, D-1, Texas Tech
TE Michael Mayer*, D-2, Notre Dame
DT Byron Young, D-3, Alabama
WR Tre Tucker, D-3, Cincinnati
CB Jakorian Bennett, D-4, Maryland
QB Aidan O’Connell, D-4, Purdue
S Christopher Smith II, D-5, Georgia
LB Amari Burney, D-6, Florida
DT Nesta Jade Silvera, D-7, Arizona State
DE David Agoha, NFL IPP, Nigeria
G McClendon Curtis, UDFA, Tennessee-Chattanooga
S Jaydon Grant, UDFA, Oregon State
CB Azizi Hearn, UDFA, UCLA
CB Jordan Perryman, UDFA, Washington
DE Adam Plant, UDFA, UNLV
TE John Samuel Shenker, UDFA, Auburn
DE George Tarlas, UDFA, Boise State
LB Drake Thomas, UDFA, N.C. State
T Dalton Wagner, UDFA, Arkansas

That’s 39 new additions which is nearly half the 90-man training camp roster.

Seven of the newcomers project as starters right away including QB Jimmy Garoppolo, WR Jakobi Meyers, TE Michael Mayer, LB Robert Spillane, CBs Marcus Peters and Duke Shelley, and S Marcus Epps. Though much could change during the course of training camp.

They will also have a new long snapper in Jacob Bobenmoyer.

Rookie DE Tyree Wilson (D-1) begins camp on the Non-football injury list while DT Byron Young (D-3) begins on the PUP list.

Raiders QB Jimmy Garoppolo passes physical, expected to start camp on time

Raiders QB Jimmy Garoppolo passes physical, expected to start camp on time

One big question mark facing the Raiders this offseason — and perhaps their biggest question mark — was the health of Jimmy Garoppolo. It was revealed that the veteran QB had foot surgery just after signing with the team, causing him to miss all offseason practices, and putting his attendance at training camp in doubt.

Quarterbacks have reported for the team’s pre-camp warmup along with Garoppolo. While that brought with it the news that top pick Tyree Wilson and third round defensive tackle Byron Young would start camp sidelined by injuries, it also brought good injury news — Garoppolo passed his physical.

As Adam Schefter noted, this means Garoppolo will not be placed on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list and is hitting the field for camp on time.

This is great news, obviously. First off, because it renders all the worries about the Raiders revising his contract to have an out in case he wasn’t able to return to health. And second, because he is able to not fall behind with his new teammates and begin developing chemistry with his new receivers.

Here’s who is expected to report today to Raiders pre-camp warmup

Which players are expected to report today to Raiders pre-camp warmup

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The first signs of life are happening today at the Raiders facility in Henderson Nevada. Today a select few players report for the team’s three-day pre-camp warmup.

Expected in attendance are all rookies, first year players, and quarterbacks. A total of 30 players. Though it’s possible some others may be invited to attend, these players are sure to be there.

The list of those who are expected to be in attendance is as follows:

Rookies:

David Agoha 62 DE 6-4 252 NFL I.P.P
Jakorian Bennett 29 CB 5-11 195 Maryland
Amari Burney 56 LB 6-2 228 Florida
McClendon Curtis 63 G 6-6 325
Tennessee-Chattanooga
Jaydon Grant 40 S 6-0 190 Oregon State
Azizi Hearn 48 CB 6-1 204 UCLA
Michael Mayer 87 TE 6-4 265 Notre Dame
Aidan O’Connell 4 QB 6-3 210 Purdue
Jordan Perryman 49 CB 6-0 198 Washington
Adam Plant 52 DE 6-5 263 UNLV
John Samuel Shenker 86 TE 6-3 242 Auburn
Nesta Jade Silvera 97 DT 6-2 315 Arizona State
Chris Smith II 42 S 5-11 195 Georgia
George Tarlas 79 DE 6-3 253 Boise State
Drake Thomas 57 LB 5-11 223 N.C. State
Tre Tucker 89 WR 5-9 185 Cincinnati
Dalton Wagner 78 T 6-8 320 Arkansas
Tyree Wilson 9 DE 6-6 275 Texas Tech
Byron Young 93 DT 6-3 292 Alabama

First year players

Ike Brown 46 CB 6-1 185
Florida International
Bryce Cosby 44 CB 5-10 188 Ball State
Cole Fotheringham 85 TE 6-4 243 Utah
Chase Garbers 15 QB 6-2 225 California
Vitaliy Gurman 73 G/T 6-3 305 Toledo
Chris Lacy 14 WR 6-3 205 Oklahoma State
Kana’i Mauga 43 LB 6-2 245 USC
Jordan Meredith 61 G 6-2 300 Western Kentucky
Kristian Wilkerson 83 WR 6-1 201
Southeast Missouri State

Quarterbacks

Jimmy Garoppolo 10 QB 6-2 225 31 10 Eastern Illinois
Brian Hoyer 7 QB 6-2 215 37 15 Michigan State
Aidan O’Connell* 4 QB 6-3 210 24 R Purdue
Chase Garbers* 15 QB 6-2 225 24 1 California

*Also listed among rookies or first year players

Keep in mind, this is who will report. Not necessarily who will participate in practice. That is depending mostly upon the health of the player.

The remaining 60 Raiders veteran players will report on July 25.

Jermaine Eluemunor self-proclaimed ‘luckiest guy in the NFL’ for facing Maxx Crosby every day in Raiders camp

One week until self-proclaimed ‘luckiest guy in the NFL’ Jermaine Eluemunor back to facing Maxx Crosby every day in Raiders camp

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NFL players like to use the term ‘iron sharpens iron’ to describe how going against talented players on the other side of the ball in practice makes them better. There is some truth to that. Face a player who forces you to be at your best all the time and you will certainly be the better for it.

Such is the case with Jermaine Eluemunor who lines up across from Maxx Crosby every day in practice and he doesn’t take that for granted. He calls himself “the luckiest guy in the NFL” for privilege of facing “the best DE in the NFL for a whole month” of training camp.

The proof may be there for Eluemunor to believe that Crosby has made him a better player.

Crosby is relentless in practice just as he is in games. Anyone facing him — and in most cases that’s Eluemunor — knows they can’t take a play off or they will get embarrassed. Not only that, but Crosby’s physical attributes and technique keep opposing tackles on their toes.

Last offseason, Eluemunor came into Raiders came as part of a competition with several other tackles including former first round pick Alex Leatherwood, and former starter Brandon Parker.

Leatherwood and Parker were chewed up and spit out by Crosby. Leatherwood was waived and Parker probably would have been as well had he not gotten injured and been sent to injured reserve.

Eluemunor — who played guard for the Raiders the previous season — won that competition.

Though the season started out a bit rocky for most of the offensive line, Eluemunor included, no one stepped up and settled in better than he did at the right tackle spot.

He still has many doubters, but has earned the chance to keep the starting right tackle job and prove those doubters wrong.

It’s July 19. Raiders’ first full camp practice happens on July 26. Which means Eluemunor is exactly one week away from seeing his old pal Maxx lining up across from him once again.

Raiders 2023 training camp report date announced

We now know the Raiders 2023 training camp report dates

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We now know when to expect the Raiders to arrive at training camp. NFL Communications announced the dates and locations for all 32 NFL teams. Here’s the details for the Raiders.

Location: Raiders HQ, Henderson NV
Rookies report: July 20
Veterans report: July 25

The rookies will arrive on July 20 and be accompanied by the quarterbacks as well as first year players for a three-day pre-camp warm-up.

The remainder of the Raiders players will arrive on July 25, putting their first actual camp practice on July 26.

Typically speaking, they will do light drills and walk-thrus for the first three days before they are allowed to don pads.

The first preseason game pits them against the San Francisco 49ers on August 13 at Allegiant Stadium. They will also hold joint practices with the 49ers at the Raiders’ Henderson facility in the days leading up to that preseason matchup.

They will then travel to Los Angeles to hold joint practices with the Rams prior to their next preseason game at SoFi Stadium in LA on August 19.