Mack stretches, but then gets day of rest
Five others listed as ‘limited’ on team’s first injury report
ALAMEDA, Calif. — Khalil Mack was given a rest day Wednesday.
The All-pro defensive end missed the occasional training-camp practice in August. So, it was not a surprise here in September that, for the first regular-season practice of 2017, he watched again. Panic seems unwarranted until the week offers indication the situation is more than basic maintenance.
Mack did participate in the team’s stretch period.
Meanwhile, five players were listed as limited on the team’s first injury report — wide receiver Amari Cooper (knee), cornerback Gareon Conley (shin), linebacker Cory James (knee), kicker Sebastian Janikowski (back) and left guard Kelechi Osemele (wrist/ankle).
These are names to old injuries. Conley’s injury happened in June. Cooper first began missing time to a knee ailment in late July. In August, Osemele was noticed as having his right hand heavily wrapped. Janikowski’s back injury was known, although the orgin date is unclear. James was injured in practice and missed the final two exhibitions.
The team has managed all situations.
Barring an unforeseen setback, there appears no cause for alarm, certainly for Cooper and Osemele. Conley has made positive strides, and he entered the week amid surrounding belief he’ll play Sunday’s season opener against Tennessee.
Tight end Lee Smith (non-injury), fullback Jamize Olawale (quad) and safety Keith Mcgill II (foot) joined Mack as not having practiced. Smith is fully expected to play Sunday. Olawale appears likely to. Mcgill won’t.
Corneback David Amerson (concussion) was listed a full participant. He is slated to start against the Titans.
Reports: Janikowski, Raiders resolve contractual issues
ESPN and NBC Sports both reported Wednesday that the team and Sebastian Janikowski have resolved their contractual differences.
The kicker wore a No. 11 red jersey on Wednesday. He stretched his lower body. He even took a practice swing with his kicking leg near reporters, a motion that revealed no visible hint of limitation to a back injury.
Raiders coach Jack Del Rio declined to shed light on Janikowski’s availability for Sunday’s opener.
The team worked out three kickers on Monday amid concern over the 39-year-old’s health.
On Monday, ESPN also reported that Janikowski’s roster spot was in jeopardy because of his $4.05 million salary.
On Wednesday, both ESPN and NBC Sports reported the two sides have “resolved” their contractual differences.
OT Penn hopeful
Donald Penn passed his first test on Aug. 26.
The Raiders left tackle, three days after ending a 26-day holdout, played 19 snaps in an exhibiton against Dallas. His workload consisted of two offensive series, the first of which lasted 10 plays and culminated in a touchdown.
He is hopeful he is ready for a more extraneous test on Sunday. He is hopeful it comes with a new contract.
A significant few days await Penn. The 11th-year NFL veteran will face the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, looking to play all 65 or so of the Raiders’ estimated snaps. He is cautiously optimistic his body is ready. Meanwhile, he reported to the team on Aug. 23 feeling assured his contract situation would be addressed before kickoff.
The clock is ticking.
Penn, 34, is currently slated to earn a $5.8 million salary in 2017 and up to $750,000 in potential in-season incentives. He seeks to be compensated like a top-10 caliber player at his position, an adjustment requiring a raise of a few million dollars.
“That’s what they told me, so we’re going to see,” Penn said Tuesday of a new deal before the season. “We still have a couple days this week, so we’ll see what happens.”
As for his Sunday readiness, he’ll also wait and see.
A starter’s workload varies from week to week based on game flow. Penn played all 65 offensive snaps in Week 3 against these same Titans last September in Nashville. That snap count is typical. But there are other games that defy expectation. In Week 8 of 2016, he played 96 offensive snaps against the Buccaneers with an additional four on special teams. In Week 9, he played 94 total snaps versus the Broncos.
Largely to his holdout, Penn missed all of training camp and three of four exhibitions.
He is unable to declare with certainty his readiness for what awaits.
“To be honest with you, I’m not going to know until I get out there and play,” Penn said. “It’s going to be a good test. … I should be ready. I’m going in there (Sunday) with that positive mentality.”
Contact reporter Michael Gehlken at mgehlken@reviewjournal.com. Follow @Gehlkennfl on Twitter.