Carr plays role of peacemaker as tempers flare

NAPA — The Raiders have reached the portion of training camp where it’s quite clear they are ready to hit somebody else.

Their sixth practice of camp featured the most intensity seen to date in Napa, with a pair of scuffles stealing the shine from a day that featured some good thumping.

Derek Carr had to play peacemaker at one point when several members of the offense and defense got fired up following a play in full team drills. The pushing and shoving started after left tackle Donald Penn tossed linebacker Ben Heeney to the ground after the whistle.

“To me, I like the chippiness,” Carr said. “I love the competitiveness. They’re not doing it just because they don’t like somebody. They’re doing it because maybe they got the best of somebody or maybe they played a little too hard. We don’t want to hurt anybody. There’s a fine line when you get professional athletes out here.”

Another mini brawl broke out when undrafted running back Jalen Richard exchanged punches with defensive end Damontre Moore.

“That stuff can’t happen,” Carr said. “To me, it’s not about the fights and people getting hurt — which I don’t want — it’s if that happens during a game, that’s a penalty, that’s an ejection. We can’t lose one person. That’s why if I’m the peacemaker, absolutely, I’ll take that role.”

Thursday marked the Raiders’ fourth straight day practicing in pads (with a day off mixed in Tuesday). It’s likely Friday will see the team dial it back.

Defensive end Khalil Mack theorized the adding of offensive and defensive schemes could be one reason Thursday’s session got more intense.

“We’re adding different things to our defense as well as offense, adding different schemes here and there,” Mack said. “So, that’s probably what you saw today, the intensity switching up.”

Mack and Carr had a humorous exchange as Carr moseyed up toward the end of Mack’s post-practice news conference. Carr got in the final question to Mack, asking, “Who’s your favorite quarterback?”

Mack replied in classic form. “My favorite quarterback? It’s really Aaron Rodgers.”

He could barely spit that out before breaking out into laughter and adding, “I’m playing.”

Carr didn’t miss a beat though.

“I like Von, too,” Carr said, referencing Super Bowl 50 MVP Von Miller of the Denver Broncos.

“That’s messed up,” Mack replied.

nSafety Karl Joseph, the Raiders first-round pick, sat out Thursday’s practice for undisclosed reasons. Coach Jack Del Rio wasn’t scheduled to speak to the media (he will talk Friday) and a team spokesman declined to comment on Joseph’s status.

Joseph missed the Raiders entire offseason program rehabilitating from a torn anterior cruciate ligament injury suffered as a senior at West Virginia. Joseph had been on the field participating for the first five days of training camp, including the first three sessions in pads.

Joseph spent portions of Thursday’s practice on the field wearing shorts, a jersey and holding his helmet.

Tight end Clive Waln ford, running back Taiwan Jones and defensive tackle Leon Orr also all missed Thursday’s practice. Walford and Jones, like Joseph, were present for some of the practice but didn’t participate. Cornerback SaQwan Edwards and tight end Colton Underwood missed their second straight practice.

Defensive end Denico n Autry, on the physically unable to perform list with a right hand, wrist or forearm injury, worked out on the side Thursday for the first time during training camp.

Several defensive n backs had strong days as the secondary continues to look good.

Cornerback David Amerson batted down a pass thrown by Carr to Michael Crabtreeandalso provided tight coverage on Amari Cooper that forced him to catch a ball out of bounds. Dexter McDonald also knocked two passes away, including a deep jump ball to 6-foot-5 receiver Andre Holmes.

The first-team offense concluded team work in a two-minute drill that opened with a nice crossing route from Carr to Seth Roberts for a big gain and ended with a Sebastian Janikowski 41-yard field goal.

Special teams work included DJ Hayden blocking a Giorgio Tavecchio field goal and scooping it up to return it for a touchdown.