JUST WINNIPEG
Playing on an 80-yard field in Canada, Raiders rally for third preseason victory
Oh, Canada. Never again. Because of problems with the IG Field artificial surface in both end zones, the Raiders and Green Bay Packers played Thursday night on an 80-yard field.
Key players from both sides remained planted on the bench, and a sparse crowd watched the Raiders beat the Packers 22-21 in what could be the last time an NFL team plays an exhibition game on Canadian soil.
Daniel Carlson won the game with a 33-yard field goal with eight seconds remaining.
Given the amount of players who
didn’t play, it drove home the point to those who were actually on the field — don’t be too secure.
Some takeaways with three of four exhibition games in the books: HAS MIKE GLENNON WON THE JOB
AS BACKUP QUARTERBACK? » Given that Glennon was out of the game after a quarter (he was 4 of 9 for 38 yards) and Nathan Peterman took it the rest of the way, which means it’s likely Glennon will be No. 2 behind Derek Carr.
The question is whether coach Jon Gruden and GM Mike Mayock want to keep two or three quarterbacks on the roster. Given Peterman’s difficulties in Buffalo, he could get through waivers and be a
practice squad quarterback.
Peterman had the Raiders on the verge of a tie score after a 17-yard touchdown pass to D’Mornay PiersonEl with 5:48 left, but was pressured into an incompletion on a two-point conversion pass. He led the Raiders on the drive that ended in Carlson’s game-winner and finished 22 of 37 for 210 yards and two touchdowns. ANTONIO BROWN UPDATE » Yes, Brown was with the team. Seemed to be enjoying himself on the sidelines, interacting with teammates and signing some autographs for fans. Nothing to see here. KEISEAN NIXON MAKES HIS MOVE » Nixon, an undrafted rookie out of South Carolina, has flashed during camp at times but elevated his play against the Packers.
Packers quarterback Tim Boyle went at him twice early on and came up snake eyes — once to Jake Kumerow and once to Trevor Davis. Nixon has good press cover skills and still probably faces tough odds to make the 53-man roster, but he’s still in the mix. NICK NELSON STRUGGLES » A fourth-round draft pick last year, Nelson got picked on by Boyle early and often in the first half. Nelson was victimized on Boyle’s 15-yard touchdown pass to Davis, the former Alhambra High and Cal star. Then he nearly had his ankles broken on a double move by Kumerow, who scored on a 23-yard touchdown reception from Boyle.
Nelson still has four practices and the exhibition finale against Seattle to pull out of it. The fact that free-agent acquisition Nevin Lawson will spend the first four games on the suspended list for violating the NFL policy on performance-enhancing drugs could also buy him time.
The good news? Nelson intercepted Green Bay’s final Hail Mary attempt at a touchdown as time expired. RETURN OF KEITH SMITH » The incumbent fullback and a core special-teams player, Smith missed much of the Napa portion of training camp after an offseason knee injury during a workout required minor surgery. He scored on a 15-yard pass from Peterman that gave the Raiders a 10-7 lead with 9:34 left in the first half.
Smith also had a lead block on a fourth-and-1 conversion by James Butler in the fourth quarter.
While Smith was out, Alec Ingold, an undrafted rookie from Wisconsin, showed the ability to block, catch passes and also do special-teams work. With a year in the system and because of his work on special teams, Smith probably has the edge, and getting into the end zone against the Packers didn’t hurt the chances of the San Jose State product. DEFENSIVE TACKLES GET PRESSURE » Maurice Hurst has had a strong camp and figures prominently in the defensive tackle rotation. That’s why it seemed strange to see Hurst penetrating early on and getting more snaps than anyone could have figured with so many players not dressed out. He was still on the field in the third quarter.
That doesn’t mean Hurst is on the bubble. It probably means that as much as Gruden would have liked to sit even more players, it simply wasn’t possible.
P. J Hall, a second-round pick last year, got a muchneeded second- half sack of DeShone Kizer, abusing guard Cole Madison in the process. Although Hall is probably secure because of his draft status a year ago, it was still a much-needed play for someone who was called out by Gruden in front of the team at one point during camp because of his conditioning.
Anthony Rush, the undrafted free agent from Alabama-Birmingham who was dominant against the Rams and good against the Cardinals, had a “wow” snap when he beat a double team early and remains a threat to stick. He also took on a block and enabled a run stuff by Nick Morrow in the third quarter. SORTING OUT THE WIDE RECEIVERS » Rico Gafford, who got loose for a 53-yard touchdown catch from Glennon against Arizona, had four catches for 31 yards in the first half. (There was also a third-quarter drop of a slant). Gafford’s chances of making the 53-man roster are minimal, however, at a crowded position. His best bet would be practice squad or having his game tape serve as a jumping-off point elsewhere.
Keelan Doss of Alameda and U.C. Davis had four catches for 52 yards. He’s done well enough that the Raiders would need to be fearful he wouldn’t necessarily clear waivers and be make it to their practice squad should he be cut.
Antonio Brown, Tyrell Williams, Hunter Renfrow and Ryan Grant did not play. That may or may not be an indication that Renfrow and Grant, who do their best work in the slot, could be on the roster. CARLSON, COLE GETS THEIR KICKS » Carlson, running unopposed this season after going 16 for 17 a year ago as an in-season signing, converted attempts from 42 and 40 yards, leading up to his game-winner.
Since there were no kickoffs because of the field issues, it remains to be seen whether Carlson or A. J. Cole will end up handling those duties in Week 1. Cole has shown the ability to kick off, but he’s doing it for the first time since high school.
Cole, who said the day Johnny Townsend was released he fully understood there were plenty of other punters out there were he to falter, looks as if he will win the job.