Penn agrees to rework deal with Raiders
NAPA >> The Raiders and veteran left tackle Donald Penn have reached an agreement to restructure his contract, a source told this newspaper on Monday night.
Penn’s new deal actually includes more guaranteed money over the next two years than his original deal did, according to the source, and now the next step for the 35-yearold is to get healthy after taking a pay cut.
Penn was originally due to make $6 million in base salary this season with over $1.5 million in a roster bonus, $600,000 in a workout bonus and $250,000 in a miscellaneous bonus. Penn’s guaranteed salary this season was set at $3 million.
Penn has yet to practice during training camp while recovering from December Lisfranc surgery. While his foot heals, rookie firstrounder Kolton Miller has served as the first-team left tackle. After Miller played two series in Friday’s preseason opener, Penn was seen instructing the 15th overall pick on the sideline with his own footwork and squatting demonstrations.
Miller committed a costly holding penalty that negated a 60-yard Marshawn Lynch touchdown run, but was otherwise sturdy in his NFL debut.
Penn has been moving well on a side field with a trainer in Napa, but Jon Gruden didn’t shed any light on when the veteran may return to action when asked on Monday.
“It’s an ongoing process,” the Raiders’ head coach said. “We’ll update you when we know something.”
If Penn gets healthy enough to start again, and the Raiders think he’s still
capable, it will be interesting to see what Gruden does with Miller. The rookie has yet to get reps at right tackle during training camp, while Ian Silberman, Breno Giacomini, David Sharpe and Brandon Parker have cycled through the right tackle spot.
Miller has expressed in the past his preference for playing on the left side rather than the right, but the Raiders and Penn restructuring his deal may indicate the team plans to involve him in their offense this year. There’s always the possibility Penn starts at left tackle, and Miller plays the role of left tackle understudy until he’s ready to take over.
The Raiders took care of one financial order of business on Monday. Now onto the more important one of getting their best player to show up.
The Las Vegas ReviewJournal was the first to report Penn and the Raiders agreeing on a restructured deal.
Five takeaways from the Raiders first practice since Friday’s 16-10 win over the Detroit Lions:
GAREON CONLEY IS BACK >> The Raiders 2017 firstround draft pick was back on the field for his first padded practice after going out on the first day of camp with a hip injury. It wasn’t always smooth — Conley got beat deep by Jordy Nelson for a long score from Derek Carr and later went sprawling to break up a pass to Johnny Holton but missed the ball.
But Conley did get back up, kept practicing, and got in work with the first team.
“He healed quicker than anybody expected,” Gruden said. “I was surprised he had the full pads on. We limited him. We’ll give him more and more each day as he gains some confidence being back on the field with pads on.”
One reason Conley got additional first-team work was a freak collision between starting corners Rashaan Melvin and Daryl Worley. Worley was helped off the field by the training staff and did not return. CONNOR COOK GETS BULK OF SECOND TEAM REPS >> The competition remains open between Connor Cook and EJ Manuel to back up Carr,
but it’s clear Cook is getting more of a serious look than he ever got a year ago under Jack Del Rio and offensive coordinator Todd Downing.
Cook completed 10 of 19 passes for 141 yards and a touchdown against Detroit, but conceded the Lions weren’t exactly bringing the house in terms of defensive pressure.
“Detroit for the most part is a four-down front, occasional jam, but not really bringing any pressure,” Cook said. “That’s probably why it looked like we were comfortable out there.”
Toward that end, Gruden had defensive coordinator Paul Guenther trying to confuse Cook with pressures and alignments.
“We made it hard on him today, put him in some tough positions,” Gruden said. “You don’t get a chance to read your clippings and celebrate your press conferences for long in this business. Hopefully he got his eyes opened today and he can learn from this film.”
Manuel was 4 of 6 for 46 yards against Detroit. MARTAVIS BRYANT MISSES PRACTICE >> As the Raiders were making their way
from the field house to the practice field, Bryant, wearing sunglasses despite overcast skies, was headed back to the hotel.
Bryant missed practice last week due to “illness,” and this time Gruden was more specific.
“He’s in his room, he’s got a headache and hopefully he gets well soon,” Gruden said.
Acquired for a thirdround draft pick, Bryant had one catch for 18 yards in four targets. Among wideouts, only Marcell Ateman (five) had more passes thrown in his direction. LINE SHUFFLING >> Ian Silberman continued to work at right tackle as veteran Breno Giacomini has been out two weeks with a sore knee. Rookie Brandon Parker just returned to practice and the hope is he will get to play in Saturday’s road game against the Los Angeles Rams.
On the left side, Gruden said the Raiders are still waiting on Penn to be cleared medically after offseason foot surgery, with rookie Kolton Miller probably solidifying his hold on that position with a strong
12 snaps against Detroit.
Second-year tackle David Sharpe continues get the carrot and stick treatment.
“I probably have way too high of expectations for Sharpe,” Gruden said. “I raised the bar four more inches today. Every time he gets close I seem to raise it too far for him ... I’m going to keep pushing him until he gets there.”
• Rookie defensive end Arden Key returned to practice after missing the Lions game with an ankle sprain. Safety Marcus Gilchrist, wide receiver Seth Roberts and defensive end Fadol Brown did not practice. Safety Obi Melifonwu (lower body injury) is still out and continues to be evaluated, Gruden said.
• The site of the Raiders’ regular-season “home” game in London against the Seattle Seahawks on Oct. 14 was switched from Tottenham Hotspur Stadium to Wembley Stadium. Officials determined the new Tottenham Stadium would not be ready in time.