Daily Local News (West Chester, PA)
Former Raider Wisniewski eyes return against Oakland
Stefen Wisniewski was in his last season with the Raiders when Derek Carr arrived as a second-round draft pick out of Fresno State.
Wisniewski has kept an eye on the kid he snapped to during that 2014 campaign, and what he’s become.
“From being there with him there for a year, and knowing what he’s capable of I know he’s definitely one of the best quarterbacks in the league,” Wisniewski said. “And I expect him to be that for a long time.”
Carr has thrown 20 touchdown passes and 10 interceptions for the Raiders (6-8), who were eliminated from playoff contention in a 20-17 loss last weekend to the Cowboys.
Carr will be without Pro Bowl left tackle Donald Penn, out for the rest of the season with a foot injury.
Wisniewski, on the other hand, hopes to get back on the field to get comfortable with quarterback Nick Foles.
Wisniewski was limited in practice with an ankle injury. He rolled it in the first half against the Los Angeles Rams and was scratched prior to the win over the Giants last week. Chance Warmack filled in at left guard for the Eagles.
“It’s getting better every day,” Wisniewski said.
The Eagles (12-2) already have locked up the No. 2 seed and a bye in the NFC side of the playoffs. The Eagles would be the top seed if the Green Bay Packers beat the visiting Minnesota Vikings (11-3) Saturday night.
One way or the other, the Eagles need to get it done for the sake of their tortured defense.
“It would be huge,” Wisniewski said. “We play really well at home. We’re undefeated at home this year. This crowd is awesome. The Philly fans are great. And our defense has played really well when we’re at home. I definitely like our chances against everybody if we can play them here at the Linc.”
••• Elsewhere on the Eagles’ injury front, linebacker Mychal Kendricks (foot) was limited at the Thursday practice, while defensive end Derek Barnett (groin) and cornerback Jalen Mills (ankle) were held out.
Patrick Robinson (concussion) practiced fully for the Eagles, who struggled when their slot corner went down early against the Giants last week.
••• Amari Cooper was supposed to rank among the league leaders in receptions, not drops, where he’s in top-10 bad company with five drops.
Cooper, the fourth overall pick in the 2015 draft out of Alabama, was supposed to be the next Julio Jones.
Cooper (6-1, 211) clocked a 4.42 40-yard dash at the scouting combine. But he’s averaging just 11.9 yards per catch this season.
Cooper flashed Jones-type talent with 11 receptions for 210 yards and two TDs to spark the Raiders to a 31-30 win over the Chiefs in October.
Since then Cooper has been targeted 28 times, yet caught just 13 balls for 143 yards and two TDs.
Cooper was scratched last week with a mysterious ankle injury that head coach Jack Del Rio didn’t shed much light on during a conference call Thursday.
“We’re hoping to get him back this week,” Del Rio said. “We’ll know more as we go through the week of practice.”