After spending a month sequestered at training camp in the picturesque Napa Valley, the Oakland Raiders began the next phase of preparations for the 2010 season today as they returned to their regular home in Alameda. They have a short week to prepare for Thursday’s showdown with the Seattle Seahawks, which leaves the clock rapidly running out for a number of would-be Raiders.
The biggest questions left over from Saturday night’s home loss to the San Francisco 49ers don’t center around the loss on the scoreboard, but the losses in the injury column. The Raider Nation had a collective panic attack when a second quarter sack by Travis LaBoy left quarterback Jason Campbell crumpled on the grass. He was carted off the field. His injury was initially ruled a “stinger.” Today Head Coach Tom Cable told the media that he also hurt his wrist. Campbell threw in practice today, but the odds of him taking the field on Thursday were somewhere between not gonna happen and no way in hell.
Starting running back Michael Bush fractured his thumb. Its not expected that he will miss any regular season time. His chances of taking the field Thursday rank along side Clem Daniels coming out of retirement to play.
With the injury to Chaz Schilens looking to extend into the regular season, there had been speculation the Raiders may be looking to add a veteran wide receiver. Cable shot down the talk of the Raiders looking at the recently released Lavernius Coles or Antonio Bryant. “We haven’t had any of those kind of discussions at this point” Antonio Bryant was released before playing a single down after receiving a $7 million bonus. It is obvious that he had nothing left to give. Meanwhile, Coles has been cut by two teams in the last two years and is discussing retirement. Neither situation fits what the Raiders are trying to build.
In other news:
Mario Henderson held himself accountable to the sack that cause Jason Campbell’s injury, “I take responsibility. That’s my fault. The only thing I can do is get better. Thank God the injury is minor. All I can do, like they told me, is get better and move on.” He even sent Campbell a text message to apologize.
Accountability for bad play has been a hallmark of the new attitude that Cable has instilled since he was named head coach.
Cable didn’t feel that the lack of hitting and tackling in camp contributed to the issues with tackling in the 49ers game. He did say, however, “I’d like to see us wrap up when we tackle. That was probably the biggest negative that took away from the game.”
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