With Penn sidelined, rookie Sharpe starts
PHILADELPHIA — With Pro Bowl left tackle Donald Penn out for the season, the Raiders turned to rookie David Sharpe to protect quarterback Derek Carr’s blind side.
Sharpe started Monday night’s game against the Eagles in place of Penn, who suffered a foot injury against Dallas and had surgery last week. It was the first NFL start for Sharpe, who had played just three offensive snaps this season entering the game.
Head coach Jack Del Rio had declined to name Penn’s replacement during the week, though he said the Raiders knew how they would structure their line. Oakland’s other option was to move Marshall Newhouse from right to left tackle and start Vadal Alexander at right tackle.
The Raiders gave Sharpe help early, lining Alexander up to his side on their first two plays as an extra blocker and eligible receiver. Alexander was shaken up early on the Raiders’ second drive, though, and did not play the rest of the half.
The Raiders announced Alexander was being evaluated for a concussion.
With Alexander down, the Raiders were left with one extra offensive lineman in backup center James Stone. Tackle Jylan Ware and Ian Silberman, who can play multiple positions on the line, were inactive.
The 6-foot-6, 343-pound Sharpe was a fourth-round draft pick in April out of Florida, where he was a teammate of Del Rio’s son, Luke. He has been inactive for nine games this season and did not play in two of the games for which he was active. Sharpe’s three offensive snaps before Monday came at left tackle in Week 13 against the Giants. Moving on up: Carr’s 63-yard touchdown pass to Amari Cooper in the second quarter was the 102nd of his career, breaking a tie with Andrew Luck for fourth-most by an NFL quarterback in his first four seasons and putting him four behind Seattle’s Russell Wilson (106).
Carr is one of five quarterbacks to throw for 100-plus touchdowns in his first four seasons. The others: Dan Marino, Peyton Manning, Russell and Luck. Carr also extended his streak of games with at least one touchdown pass to 16.
It was also the Raiders’ 30th touchdown of 20-plus yards since the start of last season, which is most in the NFL. Marquee matchup: Monday’s game featured an intriguing matchup between two Pro Bowl selections, Raiders edge rusher Khalil Mack and Eagles right tackle Lane Johnson.
Johnson may have had the edge, despite being called for two first-half penalties — for holding Mack and for a false start with Mack rushing on his side. Mack didn’t have a sack and was limited to four tackles. New faces: The Raiders had three active players whom they promoted from the practice squad last week: Tight end Pharaoh Brown, linebacker Brady Sheldon and center James Stone. It was the first NFL game for Brown and Sheldon.
Because the Raiders have stayed relatively healthy this season, there have been few openings for practice squad call-ups. Del Rio last week credited those players with staying patient.
“Those guys understand that we’re constantly preparing them and developing them,” Del Rio said. “We want them to really work at it and embrace that, because at some point we may need you.” Inactive: Cornerback David Amerson was inactive for his eighth consecutive game with a foot injury. Also inactive for the Raiders were Silberman, Ware, quarterback Connor Cook, defensive linemen Treyvon Hester and Mario Edwards Jr., and receiver Isaac Whitney.