Brown activated from nonfootball injury list
Receiver runs routes but doesn’t take part in afternoon practice
NAPA, Calif. — Antonio Brown missed the start of training camp Saturday with an injury known to be minor.
How minor became clear on Sunday, even if the injury didn’t.
The Raiders wide receiver was activated from the nonfootball injury list. He participated in the team’s walk-through session, running routes and riling up season-ticket holders. From an on-field standpoint, his morning concluded there.
The team held him out from the actual practice.
“He was out during pre-practice, running around and doing some things today in our walk-throughs,” offensive coordinator Greg Olson said.“with Antonio Brown, there’s no such thing as a ‘walk-through’; he goes 100 miles an hour the whole time. I think he’s going to be back quickly, and you’re going to hear more from (general manager) Mike (Mayock) and (coach) Jon (Gruden) on the injury report, but he looked good to me today.”
Warren waived
Chris Warren wasn’t ready for the opportunity that awaited.
After leading the NFL in preseason rushing last year, the running back reported to training camp heavier than the Raiders hoped and officially was waived Sunday morning. The team made the decision Saturday following a lackluster first practice.
James Butler, a former UNR star, was re-signed in a corresponding move.
He spent much of 2018 on the Raiders’ practice squad.
“There’s certain standards that we have here,” Olson said. “We expect a certain level of professionalism with our players coming in fitness-wise. He didn’t meet our fitness expectations, so we decided to make a change.”
Vanderdoes injured
A bounceback summer for Eddie Vanderdoes hit a snag Sunday morning when the Raiders defensive tackle exited practice with a concussion, a person familiar with the situation said.
The Raiders will practice Monday in pads for the first time this offseason. Given the injury, Vanderdoes is not expected to participate. He suffered the ailment about halfway into Sunday’s session and did not return.
This is an important camp for the 2017 third-round pick.
He saw significant playing time as a rookie before tearing his left ACL in the fourth quarter of the Dec. 31 season finale against the Los Angeles Chargers. Last August, he experienced a rehab setback in Napa, ultimately forcing him to miss the entire 2018 season.
The Raiders hope to see Vanderdoes return and re-establish his NFL career. That opportunity remains, but for now, the effort is on hiatus.
The team has sustained a couple early injuries at defensive tackle. Ronald Ollie, an undrafted rookie and former star of “Last Chance U”on Netflix, exited on Saturday and did not return Sunday.
Contact reporter Michael Gehlken at mgehlken@reviewjournal.com. Follow @Gehlkennfl on Twitter.