HENDERSON, Nevada – Although Las Vegas Raiders coach Jon Gruden is an “optimistic” quarterback, Derek Carr will be active Saturday against the Miami Dolphins, nine days after suffering a tense groin, Gruden would not announce who would start in quarterback – Carr or Marcus Mariota.
“That’s my plan, right now, while I’m here,” Gruden said Thursday, when specifically asked if Carr, the franchise’s all-time leading passer, would go in uniform.
“But again, these Englishmen are funny. You saw what happened last Thursday night. I mean he runs to his right and I didn’t see him the rest of the game. So I won’t say anything more than “I’m optimistic. But I’m not a mental reader. I just know he had an injury that made him lose the game last week and I’m respectful of him. He’s a tough guy, man. But I’m optimistic he’ll be ready to go, Yes “.
In terms of chronology, Gruden said, “We’ll see what happens here [Friday] as for the path we follow, but we will have two quarterbacks ready to play. “
After being “limited” to practice on Tuesday, Carr was a “full” participant on Wednesday and Thursday and dealt with Mariota, who replaced Carr after he came down at the end of the first quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Mariota surprised the Chargers with his skill and willingness to run the ball: he rushed to get 88 yards of play with a 2-yard touchdown and passed 226 yards and a TD: in the 30-27 loss on time extra.
On Tuesday, Carr said he was “going to do everything he could to be on that field” against the Dolphins (9-5).
“Again, I think the best part of my game is my mind and that continues to work,” he said.
“I have done everything I can to make myself available this week and I will continue to do my best to do so because I promised [Gruden] I would. This is who I am. It may not always be perfect, but they will know when I leave, I gave everything I had, that’s for sure. “
Gruden said Carr has “shown many good things” in practice this week.
“You know, I’m not going to let the cat out of the bag here,” Gruden said. “I will make sure [Carr] that’s all right. I will make sure that he physically has to wake up in the morning and go through rehab one more day, do all the things he has to do against one of the main defenses, which causes almost every play. Therefore, we must do what is right.
“Mariota has also worked well, so as I said, we will have a quarterback under the center and we are excited to play a very good football team.”
The Raiders (7-7), however, will be without three starters in defensive defense Clelin Ferrell (shoulder) and fullbacks Nick Kwiatkoski and Nicholas Morrow, both on the reserve / COVID-19 list this week, joining on defense back Daryl Worley and safety Erik Harris on the roster. Jim O’Neil, defensive defense coach, will not be available due to concerns about COVID-19.
Rookie receiver Henry Ruggs III left the COVID-19 roster, however, as did cornerback Isaiah Johnson. Offensive coordinator Greg Olson is also expected to be out again last week due to virus issues. In addition, the Raiders defense is expected to recover security services Johnathan Abram (concussion), cornerback Damon Arnette (concussion) and defensive attack Maliek Collins, who has just returned from the injured reserve.
“We’re going to have to play our best game of the year to win it,” Gruden said.