Del Rio rebuffs rebellion speculation

Coach: Mack, Irvin absences not related to Norton firing

ALAMEDA >> Addressing the recent absence of Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin from practice, Raiders coach Jack Del Rio on Friday harkened back to the times when Charles Woodson would get a rest day.

“It’s something we do,” Del Rio said. “It’s kind of a ‘Woodson Wednesday.’ We did it a lot with Charles toward the end of his career. We’ve had good success with guys that have taken a heavy load, being smart with them on that Wednesday. So it’s just a rest day.”

Woodson was in his late-30s then. Mack and Irvin are only 26 and 30, respectively, and their unexpected day of rest came after the firing of defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. Both players have declined to comment on Norton’s dismissal, but Irvin issued a profane reaction on Twitter immediately after the announcement,

Del Rio, asked Friday whether the absences were related to Norton’s firing, replied bluntly.

“No. Not even in the slightest, really,” Del Rio said. ”We’re in good shape. The guys understand. It wasn’t anything personal.”

Asked Wednesday how he handles reactions like Irvin’s tweet, Del Rio said, “I don’t try and ‘handle’ them. I think the biggest thing is to understand the relationship, respect that, give him a little space and then at the end of the day, we’re going to get on with our work. But, I’m human. It wasn’t easy for me either.”

Mack and Irvin returned to practice Thursday and logged full sessions the final two days of the week. Both will start Sunday when the Raiders (4-6) host the Broncos (3-7) .

• After Derek Carr’s deep ball for Johnny Holton in the end zone fell well incomplete on Sunday, New England cornerback Jonathan Jones gave the Raiders’ receiver a light shove. Holton responded with a slap to Jones’ head, which will empty his pockets just a bit.

The NFL fined Holton $12,154 for unsportsmanlike conduct, a penalty that came with the Raiders down 30-0 in the fourth quarter.

The Raiders are tied for the NFL lead with three unsportsmanlike conduct penalties this season, along with the Jaguars and Giants. They’re also tied for the league lead with eight unnecessary roughness penalties this season.

The penalty came after Holton returned to the game after concussion tests. The Raiders announced in the second quarter that, after hitting his head on another Carr deep ball in the first quarter, Holton went into the locker room for tests.

Yet Holton didn’t practice on Wednesday or Thursday because of a concussion before returning to practice in a limited capacity Friday. Del Rio said Holton hasn’t officially cleared the league’s concussion protocol, and is questionable for Sunday’s game.

The head coach clarified the timeline on Holton’s injury, given he returned to Sunday’s game after concussion tests and then was held out of practice this week because of a concussion.

“I’m at the mercy of those that are the experts in that field. He got a scratch on his eye. That was what occurred there,” Del Rio said.

• Cornerback David Amerson (foot) will miss his fourth straight game and fifth this season. He has exercised on a side field the past several weeks while trying to overcome the injury.

“We’re trying to get him healthy,” Del Rio said. “Until he can go he’s not available for us.”