Raiders’ Brown back, may practice soon
GLENDALE, Ariz. — Antonio Brown took a significant step toward returning to the field on a fulltime basis Thursday night.
The AllPro receiver suited up and went through warmups with the Raiders before their 3326 preseason win over the Cardinals in Arizona. In what amounted to his first practice reps since July 30, Brown sprinted downfield for a deep throw from Derek Carr, changed direction on feet healing from frostbite and seemed enlivened by his presence on the field. And he wasn’t the only one. “Hell yeah, it was encouraging,” head coach Jon Gruden said after the game. “It was great to have him back. It’s been a strange, strange couple weeks with frostbite and the helmet grievance. Can’t say that’s common, at least in my history with the league.
“But we’ve weathered the storm. It’s great to see him out there with
his teammates. He appears to be in great spirits. And he appears like he’s ready to get going here.”
Brown, who stood on the Raiders’ sideline for the game, did not say afterward if he intends to practice with the team Saturday.
“My feet are healing in the right direction,” Brown said. “Just ready to be around my teammates and get to work and be with the guys.”
Gruden, though, indicated he expects Brown to practice before the Raiders break camp in Napa on Monday.
“I sure do,” Gruden said. “I hope so. I’m not going to say anything else, but I’m very optimistic after what I saw tonight.”
Since the Raiders last practiced with Brown, the public has learned of the receiver’s diagnosis of frostbite — reportedly due to a cryotherapy mishap — and his helmet dilemma with the NFL.
As a result, Brown remained a lightning rod for news, and criticism, even as he stayed mostly silent during a hiatus from the team. Brown has said he was seeing a foot specialist. Others speculated about Brown’s motivations or if he was even communicating with the team.
Thursday night, Brown was asked if he was bothered by outside opinions of him.
“I mean, for me as an athlete, you’ve got to have tough skin,” Brown said. “People can always talk and try to bring you down. I just think it’s tough for the people that love me, the people that know me and actually have to hear when they know the type of person I am and what I stand for.
“I hate when my mom calls me, my dad calls me like, ‘Retirement?’ I’m like, ‘I never said that.’ But that’s the hardest part. For me as an athlete you’ve got to have tough skin and not be able to pay attention to what people say.”
Last week, ESPN reported Brown had told the Raiders he would consider not playing if he were not allowed to wear his preferred helmet — which is now prohibited because it is more than 10 years old. Brown denied the report Thursday.
“I don’t know where they got that from,” Brown said. “Why would I retire? I’ve got a beautiful career. I’m healthy. I love to play the game. Obviously, I inspire people by the way I play the game. I’m grateful to play the game. And I’m excited to put on a display, not only for my family, but for these guys, our shared goals, and everybody in the community that believe in me.”
Brown’s preferred helmet is the Schutt Air Advantage, which is no longer manufactured. This week, agent Drew Rosenhaus said he and Brown had located versions that were made in the last 10 years and could therefore be recertified for use. Brown indicated Thursday the helmet he wore during warmups was not one of those found versions.
“Still working with the NFL just to make sure everything’s legal, appropriate,” Brown said. “I’m just excited to move forward and excited to be here with my teammates.”
Carr said throwing to Brown pregame “was kind of right where we left off.”
“He’s such a good player and we’ve spent so much time together that I knew when he came back, it’d be just like he had never left,” Carr said. “You see him chatting it up with everybody on the sideline. He’s our teammate, we love him. That’s our brother. And we’re just happy that he’s here so we can put our arms around him and head forward.”
Brown said he missed the team “camaraderie” during his injury absence and that “you don’t take this game for granted.”
“I’m excited to be back,” Brown said. “You guys’ll be seeing a lot of me shortly.”