Strong game by Manuel likely secures No. 2 job

You had to feel for the Raiders’ ball boy Thursday night.

Derek Carr — along with 38 of his teammates — wasn’t going to play in the Raiders’ preseason finale against the Seahawks, but he was still fired up for warm-ups. Carr lined up opposite the ball boy and backup quarterback EJ Manuel and started throwing 15-yard lasers to the teenager, who likely ended up with sore hands after dropping most of the throws.

Poor kid probably wishes he had a different story to tell his buddies.

Manuel calmly started the game and, after a slow start, locked down the No. 2 job with a touchdown drive in the second quarter. Actually, it was never really in doubt that he would beat out Connor Cook, even though the coaches said they were even at the start of camp.

Manuel, the former Bills first-round pick, took the most reps at camp and played before Cook in every preseason game. He wasn’t that sharp in the previous two preseason games, but he finished strong Thursday night. Manuel led a 14-play, 94-yard drive (lasting 7:57) that included accurate short throws and one first-down scramble. He hit Keon Hatcher for an 18-yard touchdown pass with 1:55 left in the first half and finished 9-of-14 for 85 yards.

“I think EJ has been ahead,” coach Jack Del Rio said. “I think he was ahead most of the summer and I thought he played better tonight.”

Cook, for whom the Raiders traded up last year (forcing the Cowboys to take Dak Prescott in the fourth round), was 1-for-4 for 7 yards on his two firstquarter possessions. He handed the ball off effectively on a fieldgoal drive in the third quarter and finished 8-of-19 for 88 yards and an interception.

Rough start: North Dakota State alum John Crockett might tell the grandkids someday that he started an NFL game. The running back got the honor because Marshawn Lynch, Deandre Washington, Jalen Richard and Jamize Olawale got the night off. But Crockett might want to skip the first play when telling the story. He fumbled and the Seahawks returned it to the 9-yard line.

Surprise scratch: Of the 39 players who took their pads off after warm-ups, the most surprising nonparticipant was receiver Jaydon Mickens. Either the 5-foot-10 slot receiver has been surprisingly ticketed for the 53-man roster Saturday (cut-down day) or he is banged up. Or ... he is being hidden for a return to the practice squad.

KJ Brent, who was on the practice squad with Mickens last year, showed well for himself against the Seahawks. He had two first-down catches for 27 yards in the first half.