Raiders’ Brown again misses practice with mystery ailment

NAPA, Calif. — The Antonio Brown watch continues.

For the second consecutive day, the Oakland wide receiver was nowhere to be seen Saturday during the seventh practice of training camp.

The Raiders have not specified an injury, with a source indicating as camp opened that Brown would be out “probably a week” after starting on the non-football injury list. Brown was removed from the NFI last Sunday. He participated in a walkthrough and, two days later, ran some pass routes against defenders in drills before calling it a day.

The only clue about what ails Brown was a since-deleted Instagram post which showed two badly blistered feet. Considering Brown was not with his teammates on the field, it is conceivable he is getting checked out by a specialist.

On Friday, coach Jon Gruden addressed Brown’s absence with some frustration.

“I think we’re all disappointed,” Gruden said. “We think he’s disappointed. We’d like to get the party started. We’d like to get him out of here. He’s a big part of this team, but in the time being we’re going to continue to work hard and we’ve seen the development of some other receivers we are excited about.”

Gruden rejected the idea that Brown’s absence could be a “blessing in disguise” in terms of getting other receivers ready.

“I want the guy out here as soon as possible,” Gruden said. “I’d like him to never leave and stay in the huddle every play, but life goes on and you’ve got to continue to work.”

The team also announced that it had signed running back Mack Brown, a free agent who spent part of last season on Washington’s practice squad.

Brown also has played for Minnesota, appearing in 13 games over three seasons.

Odds and ends

New Orleans is giving veteran running back Jacquizz Rodgers a chance to make his third different team in the NFC South Division. Rodgers, 29, who practiced with the Saints on Saturday for the first time, has been added to the roster in place of former Washington running back Rob Kelley, whom the Saints waived after bringing him in earlier this week. Rodgers has played eight seasons in the NFL with Atlanta, Chicago and Tampa Bay . ... Jay Gruden is doing his part to quiet trade buzz swirling around the Washington Redskins and holdout Trent Williams. Asked if the team would trade its starting left tackle, Washington’s coach said, “I would seriously doubt that, so no.” But exactly what it will take to get Williams to training camp remains something of a mystery. “I do not have an understanding of what it would take to get him back here,” Gruden said. “If I did, he’d be back here.” Williams reportedly is upset about the team’s handling of his health, including the removal of a growth on his head this year. Williams has two years left on his contract, but the standoff appears more complicated than other holdouts around the league because money isn’t the only focus. The team last week denied a report that Williams no longer trusts Redskins president Bruce Allen or the medical team and informed that the Redskins he didn’t intend to play for them again.