Raiders ready after victory over Seahawks
SEATTLE (TNS) – We made it. The preseason is finally over. It’s time to look toward real football. The Raiders Monday night date against the Rams is less than 11 days away.
To bide the time, here are your final three takeaways from the Raiders’ exhibition slate after their 30-19 win over the Seahawks on Thursday night at Centurylink Field.
1. Did EJ Manuel just win the backup QB job? Manuel needed a herculean performance (relative to the preseason, of course) to state any case for the Raiders’ backup quarterback job. He did just that on Thursday, completing 18-for-22 passes for 255 yards and three touchdowns while playing almost three full quarters.
Manuel played before Connor Cook for the first time this preseason, and didn’t lose a fumble for the fourth game in a row. That right there might be the most important stat for Manuel, who left Jon Gruden incensed with a lost fumble in each of the Raiders’ three exhibitions prior.
Cook completed 3-of-5 passes for 36 yards and a touchdown.
Now we’re left to wait and see if the Raiders take two or three quarterbacks, and if Manuel’s third straight superior performance to Cook vaults him onto the 53-man roster.
2. Daryl Worley facing a four-game suspension? During the third quarter of the game, the Raiders’ broadcast team hinted at a future suspension for Worley, Oakland’s cornerback who was arrested in April.
Color commentator Rich Gannon said, “You’re going to lose Worley for the first four games,” before play-by-play voice Beth Mowins said, “Yup, suspension.” They scaled back on their statements minutes later, saying a suspension is a possibility and that nothing has been made official. An email sent to an NFL spokesman hasn’t yet been returned, and a Raiders spokesman couldn’t confirm or deny the report during the game.
Online records from the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania reveal Worley entered a guilty plea on June 18 to driving under the influence, resisting arrest and carrying firearms in public. Worley was sentenced to three days in jail, according to the records, but was credited with time already served. He was sentenced to two years probation on the resisting arrest and carrying firearms in public charges, and had three other charges dropped.
Worley is one of the Raiders’ top three cornerbacks, and might be their No. 2 since Rashaan Melvin played in Thursday’s preseason finale while Worley didn’t dress.
It’s anyone’s guess when Daryl Worley’s suspension is announced, if at all.
3. Seth Roberts looks safe for the 53man roster. He’s hardly a fan favorite, but it seems Roberts is in great shape to make the Raiders’ initial 53-man roster when cuts are due Saturday at 1 p.m. PST. Either that, or the Raiders want to keep him healthy for a potential trade, because Roberts didn’t suit up Thursday night while fringe receivers Johnny Holton and Marcell Ateman did.
Roberts only scored one touchdown last season, in the season opener against the Titans, and might be known best for his run-blocking prowess. Not great when you’re a wide receiver.
Roberts suffered from a mild case of the drops last season, but Gruden has been pleased with his route-running this preseason. Roberts returned from a camp injury at just the right time, and has seemingly done just enough to earn his spot with a DNP against the Seahawks.