Photos from the Raiders Week 1 Tuesday practice in Alameda - September 2, 2014.
The Raiders were back at practice today at their Alameda facility as they prepare to kick off the 2014 regular season in just under a week.
After missing the preseason with a knee injury, CB Taiwan Jones returned to practice on Tuesday, and Head Coach Dennis Allen expects the special teams ace to be ready for the match-up with the Jets on Sunday.
Following the on-field work, Coach Allen held his daily press conference and spoke about the team's continued preparation for the Jets and the decision to fly out to the East Coast on Thursday.
"I wanted to do something different to give us an opportunity to maybe get our bodies right for the East Coast time," said Coach Allen. "I also think going there as a group and having the opportunity to kind of bond there in the hotel, I thought was a good idea."
In addition to Coach Allen's remarks, the day was highlighted by Derek Carr's first press conference as the starting quarterback of the Oakland Raiders.
During his media session, Carr spoke about his excitement being the man under center for the Raiders and how he will control that emotion in a hostile environment this Sunday.
"I'm obviously going to be excited," Carr said when asked about his first regular season game. "But as 'Wiz' [Stefen Wisniewski] tells me all the time, if we can just keep getting less and less rookie, we'll be good. We have a great veteran group here, around this whole team, and so I just try to pick everybody's brain. I told Charles [Woodson] and [Justin] Tuck, I'm going to bug them until they're out of here, so I hope they get used to it."
As the Raiders continue their preparation for Week 1, WR Rod Streater has been pleased with the team's intensity and the work they are accomplishing during practice.
"Practice was good," Streater said. "I feel like we're getting the mistakes out now and getting the chemistry going and I feel like it's on the rise. We're doing good and getting better each day."
The Raiders have one last practice in Northern California tomorrow before they fly out to the East Coast Thursday. Tomorrow, Coach Allen, Defensive Coordinator Jason Tarver and Offensive Coordinator Greg Olson will address the media.
