Cooper likely an early target to ‘get his confidence rolling’
Don’t tell the Baltimore Ravens and their head coach John Harbaugh, but there’s a good chance the Raiders will be looking to throw the ball to Amari Cooper early in the game Sunday in Oakland.
The Raiders’ dynamic wide receiver has suffered a string of dropped passes this season, and for the Raiders to get back on track, they’ll need to get Cooper into a grippy groove.
Harbaugh, in a Wednesday morning conference call with Bay Area media, said of Cooper, “He’s a game wrecker.”
The Raiders could use one of those.
“We definitely want to get (Cooper) rolling, get his confidence rolling and everything like that, get him some touches early so he can make some plays,” quarterback EJ Manuel said. Manuel will be starting in place of the injured Derek Carr.
Cooper spoke to the media as well, and was typically quiet and low key. Asked if he’d like to get some catches early in the game Sunday, to rebuild his confidence, Cooper said, “I think it’s always good to get a ball early.”
Not that he would ever make that request.
“Nah,” Cooper said, “I don’t ask for (passes), I just try to stay within the offense.”
Manuel added, “There’s no pressure on (Cooper) because we know he’s a great player.”
Injury updates: Michael Crabtree, the Raiders’ other starting wide receiver, was in uniform and stretching during the media-access portion of Wednesday’s practice. He missed Sunday’s game at Denver with a chest injury sustained in the previous game, at Washington, and was listed on the team’s injury report as limited.
Also limited: Cornerback David Amerson (concussion), Cooper (knee) and running back DeAndre Washington (hamstring).
Nonparticipants were Carr (back), cornerback Gareon Conley (shin), defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. (back) and guard Gabe Jackson (foot).