Raiders beat: Wide receiver Cooper delivers preseason highlight.
The Raiders may still be waiting for a third receiver to emerge, as coach Jon Gruden said earlier this week, but their top option appears ready for the regular season.
Amari Cooper made a difficult catch for a 49-yard gain on the Raiders’ first play from scrimmage in Friday night’s preseason game against the Packers at the Coliseum. It was Cooper’s first catch of the preseason — and potentially his only one, should the Raiders rest their starters next Thursday at Seattle.
Lined up to the right of quarterback Derek Carr, Cooper ran a post route and leaped to haul in Carr’s throw. Landing on top of cornerback Jaire Alexander, Cooper popped back up and ran for another five yards.
The Raiders have not featured their top receivers much in the preseason. Cooper played one series in the opener against Detroit, while Jordy Nelson caught one pass for four yards in the game. Both sat out the second game against the Rams, along with most of the Raiders’ starters.
Old friends: Nelson, who spent the first 10 years of his NFL career with Green Bay, said he was looking forward to seeing some of his former teammates before Friday’s game. As Aaron Rodgers, Nelson’s former quarterback, walked to midfield during warm-ups, Nelson playfully ran the other way.
The two connected later in warm-ups. Carr and Nelson walked to the Packers’ side of the field, where Carr threw a pass to Packers receiver DaVante Adams, his former teammate at Fresno State. Rodgers followed by throwing a slant pass to Nelson, drawing cheers from some fans along the Green Bay sideline.
New rule: Safety Marcus Gilchrist became the second Raiders player penalized under the NFL’s new rule prohibiting lowering the helmet to initiate contact.
Gilchrist was called for lowering his head against Packers tight end Lance Kendricks on a pass play near the sideline in the second quarter, though he appeared to contact Kendricks first with his shoulder.
Gilchrist, who was playing in his first game this preseason after missing time with a foot injury, was asked last week about whether he’d have to adjust his play to avoid leading with his helmet: “Speaking personally, for my career, I’ve never really had a problem with it,” he said. “I’ll just continue to do as I’ve been doing. And if something happens I’ll have to adjust from there.”
Roster move: Safety Obi Melifonwu, whom the Raiders waived-injured Thursday, passed through waivers unclaimed and reverted to Oakland’s injured reserve list.
The Raiders can keep Melifonwu on injured reserve until he is healthy or attempt to reach an injury settlement with him and release him. NFL Network reported Friday that Melifonwu believes he can play this season.
Briefly: Edge rusher Bruce Irvin was not at the Coliseum for Friday night’s game. A team spokesman said Irvin was away with an excused absence . ... Kicker Eddy Piñeiro, who has been out with a groin injury, was playing catch on the field during warm-ups but did not kick. Mike Nugent handled placekicking duties.