Raiders will test depth in opener

Jon Gruden said the Raiders will use Friday night’s preseason opener against Detroit to evaluate how some of their newer arrivals perform in the heat of game situations.

He did not exclude himself from that group.

Gruden, 54, might have several lifetimes’ worth of coaching experience, but it has been nearly 10 years since he last roamed the sideline as a head coach in an NFL game.

Friday night will mark not only Gruden’s return to the Coliseum, where he last coached a game for the in January 2002, but his first stab at handling the rapid in-game duties of a head coach and play-caller after a decade in broadcasting.

“I am looking forward to it,” Gruden said Wednesday. “I’m looking forward to it big-time. I’ve got some things, obviously, I’ve got to work out: anticipating situations, commu- nicating with coaches in the press box, the referees on the field, the new rules interpretations.

“I’ve got to work myself through calling plays again and managing some tough situations. And I’m anxious to see if I can do it.”

Although the Raiders probably wouldn’t have given Gruden a 10year, $100 million contract if they didn’t think he could pick it up again, his actions will be worth watching while the Raiders likely rest their starters for most, if not all, of the game.

Derek Carr, Bruce Irvin and oth

ers got plenty of reps against Detroit starters in the teams’ joint practices in Napa this week, allowing Gruden to focus Friday on players competing for spots on the 53-man roster.

“We’ve got a lot of contenders,” Gruden said. “There are a lot of guys that have put themselves on the brink of making this football team, and we’ve got to make sure we give them every opportunity to showcase their skills.”

Here are five positions the Raiders probably will be watching in the preseason opener:

Quarterback: For much of training camp, EJ Manuel has seemed to have an edge over Connor Cook in the competition to be Carr’s backup. Manuel, though, had a particularly rough day Tuesday, throwing three practice interceptions against the Lions. Cook then followed with one of his best days of practice Wednesday.

So the job remains open between Manuel, who backed up Carr last season, and Cook, who has played in only two NFL games but whom Gruden said has “made great strides” this offseason. Right tackle: Breno Giacomini and rookie Brandon Parker were expected to compete for the starting job, but neither is practicing because of injuries. Instead, Ian Silberman, a 27year-old journeyman who last played tackle in college, is taking first-team reps on the right side.

Second-year player David Sharpe is a candidate, too, although he has also worked at left tackle, where rookie Kolton Miller is starting in the absence of Donald Penn. Silberman could have an opportunity to show he’s capable of handling the role. Safety: Projected starters Karl Joseph and Marcus Gilchrist have dealt with injuries this camp, opening reps for players competing for the fourth (or fifth) safety spots on the roster.

Erik Harris, a special-teams standout last season, seems to be making a strong case. Gruden said recently the 28-yearold with zero NFL starts “has a chance to be a full-time starter.” Obi Melifonwu, the 2017 second-round pick, needs to make an impression but missed the past two days with a lower-body injury. Shalom Luani, Tevin Mitchel and Dallin Leavitt are in the mix.

Receiver: The top three spots are claimed (four, if Martavis Bryant meets Gruden’s recent challenge), leaving a handful of players competing for one or two jobs.

Rookie Marcell Ateman, the seventh-round pick from Oklahoma State, has received praise for his play in camp. Seth Roberts, entering his fourth season, can move to different spots, something the Raiders value. Johnny Holton offers speed and special-teams ability. Cornerback: Coaches have called this position “wide open.” Projected starter Gareon Conley hasn’t practiced since Day 1 of camp with a hip strain. Daryl Worley, his replacement, might be facing league discipline following an offseason arrest. If rookie fourth-round pick Nick Nelson shows he’s capable, he could claim a bigger role. Briefly: The Raiders on Thursday signed free-agent safety Quincy Mauger and waived long-snapper Drew Scott. Mauger signed with Atlanta last season as an undrafted free agent and spent the season on the reserve/injured list with a knee injury.