Streater returns to crowded corps of Raiders receivers
Receiver had missed 11 practices due to illness
NAPA — Rod Streater was back on the practice field for the Raiders on Sunday, where the team’s former No. 1 receiver is now battling to secure a job as the top backup.
Streater finally made his training camp debut after missing the first 11 practices of camp with an undisclosed illness. He missed the final 13 games of last season, too, with a broken foot and the receiving corps has gone through a major overhaul since he last played.
“It’s exciting,” Streater said. “It’s pushing me harder to come back. It’s exciting to see them work hard in this offense and be successful. It’s just a good group of receivers.”
Streater won’t be taking the starting spots of firstround pick Amari Cooper or free agent signee Michael Crabtree, but he can help give Oakland a deeper and more dynamic group of weapons for second-year quarterback Derek Carr.
Streater led the Raiders with 60 catches and 888 receiving yards in 2013 and was pegged as their No. 1 receiver last year before getting hurt. James Jones ended up leading the Raiders with just 666 receiving yards, extending the team’s streak to 12 straight years without a 1,000-yard receiver.
Whether that streak ends this year or not, the Raiders at least seem to have a better and deeper group of targets. A successful return for Streater would be a big part of that.
His absence for the start of camp still remains a bit mysterious, with Streater claiming to not have all the information yet either.
“I’m still working with the doctors,” Streater said. “They really don’t know yet.”
Streater said he’s been seeing the doctors for a while after not feeling good during the team’s offseason activities. He acknowledged he’s lost some weight that he’s working hard to put back on and said he feels good enough to be back.
“I was working with the doctors for a while trying to figure out what was going on,” Streater said. “As time went on, I felt better. The coaches worked me out, got me through the conditioning test and decided I looked good and got me back out there.”
Coach Jack Del Rio was pleased with what he saw from Streater on Sunday.
“He looks good. He looks fresh,” Del Rio said. “He passed the conditioning test and got himself ready to go. It’s good to see him back out there.”
Streater got some work with the first-team offense Sunday but spent more time with the second team. He didn’t have any catches during full 11-on-11 work, but did make one grab during the 7-on-7 portion.
Wide receiver Andre n Holmes left Sunday’s practice after he was tackled by Dexter McDonald following a reception in the middle of the field. The players were not in pads, so it was supposed to be a non-contact practice.
Holmes walked to the locker room next to the practice field shortly afterward and did not return. By policy, Del Rio doesn’t discuss injuries in the offseason or exhibition season, so there was no update on Holmes’ status.
Rookie tight end Clive n Walford didn’t practice Sunday after making two catches for 28 yards in his NFL debut Friday. He missed the first nine practices of camp but returned last week in time to practice twice and suit up for the 18-3 win over the St. Louis Rams.
Del Rio didn’t indicate if this was a related or new injury. The earlier absence was reportedly a strained hamstring.
“He wasn’t able to go today,” Del Rio said of Walford. “He’s tending to his business, getting himself right.”
Lee Smith, the No. 1 tight end on the depth chart, was back in practice after missing about a week. Safety Brandian Ross also returned after missing Friday’s game. Linebacker Sio Moore and running backs Roy Helu and Jamize Olawale continue to be out.
The team portion of n practice Sunday opened in electric fashion with Carr placing a perfect deep pass that Cooper caught for about 50 yards past the coverage of Keith McGill. One play later, Crabtree outmuscled McGill to haul in a Carr pass that was slightly off target. Austin Willis hauled in an 80-yard touchdown reception up the seam from No. 3 quarterback Matt McGloin.
During some 7-on-7 work, McGill got some redemption when he broke up a deep pass intended for Cooper. Crabtree caught a 40-yard touchdown when he blew past DJ Hayden.
Kris Durham made a nice jump-ball catch for a touchdown from McGloin to highlight the team’s red zone work.
Both Carr and backup Christian Ponder set up field goals during their two-minute drills. Crabtree made a nice in-air adjustment for a catch that got the offense inside the 10-yard line. With the second-team, Kenbrell Thompson dived to make a tremendous sideline catch from Ponder.