Rookie lineman impresses

Derek Carr doesn’t like giving rookies too much praise, but the Raiders’ quarterback couldn’t help himself when it came to defensive tackle Eddie Vanderdoes.

“Very explosive, great hands,” Carr said. “He reminds me a lot of the way (Justin) Tuck can get skinny and shoot a gap. The way he plays with his hands, and if he gets beat the first time, he’s going to counter again. If he gets beat, then he’s going to counter again.

“His mind never stops. His motor never stops.”

Linebacker Bruce Irvin complained often last year about the lack of a push inside up front. Vanderdoes, a thirdround pick from UCLA, has impressed Irvin as well as Carr.

Now they want to see what he does in the preseason opener Saturday at Arizona.

“That kind of player inside, with Bruce and Khalil (Mack) rushing the outside, it’s going to be a problem (for offenses), it really is,” Carr said. “I’m really happy that we have (Vanderdoes) and he didn’t go to another AFC West team.” Conley update: An update on first-round pick Gareon Conley’s status came from the rookie himself.

He tweeted, “Now I have shin splints lol,” “I don’t have shin splints lol” and “I ain’t trippin just a lot of people think they know what’s going on when they don’t.”

Conley later deleted some of his tweets when he was alerted that general manager Reggie McKenzie was the one who said he had shin splints 11 days ago.

Conley has yet to practice at training camp in Napa, and is obviously frustrated by people on social media wondering what’s taking so long.

McKenzie offered the diagnosis July 31, because he addressed the media when a grand jury declined to press charges on a rape allegation against Conley in Cleveland.

Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio won’t touch the subject of Conley’s injury, saying 13 days ago: “We expect to get him back shortly.” Briefly: A hot topic has been Sean Smith practicing with the second team this week, but on Thursday, the cornerback was back with the starters. … Mack and receiver Amari Cooper missed practice again with undisclosed injuries. Secondround pick Obi Melifonwu changed into pads at the last minute, but then watched the proceedings. The safety has been out three straight days with an undisclosed injury. … Backup guard/center Jon Feliciano (knee) practiced with the first team at camp.