HENDERSON, Nev. – Although Las Vegas Raiders coach Jon Gruden is “optimistic”, quarterback Derek Carr will be active on Saturday against the Miami Dolphins, nine days after suffering a groin injury, Gruden has not announced who would start as a quarterback – Carr or Marcus Mariota.
“That’s my plan, now, while I’m sitting here,” said Gruden on Thursday, when asked specifically whether Carr, the biggest passer of all time in the franchise, would be in uniform.
“But again, those groins are funny. You saw what happened last Thursday night. I mean, he’s running to the right and I haven’t seen him the rest of the game. So, I’m not going to say anything else. than I’m optimistic. But I’m not a mind reader. I just know that he had an injury that caused him to lose the game last week and I respect that. He’s a tough guy, man. But I’m optimistic, he’ll be ready to go, yes. “
In terms of the schedule, Gruden said, “Let’s see what happens here [Friday] in terms of which path we will take, but we will have two defenders ready to play. “
After being “limited” in practice on Tuesday, Carr was a “full” participant on Wednesday and Thursday and shared the reps with Mariota, who replaced Carr after he fell 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 ran for 88 yards with a 2-yard touchdown and went to 226 yards and a TD – in the 30-27 defeat in overtime.
On Tuesday, Carr said he would “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 it is still working,” he said.
“I did everything I could to be available this week and I will continue to do my best to do this because I promised [Gruden] I would do it. This is who I am. It may not always be perfect, but they will know when I leave, I gave everything I had, for sure. “
Gruden said that Carr “showed a lot of good things” in practice this week.
“You know, I’m not going to let the cat out of the bag here,” said Gruden. “I will be sure [Carr] It’s ok. I will make sure that, physically, he has to wake up in the morning and spend another day in rehab, doing everything he needs against one of the leading defenses, which pushes almost every move. So we have to do what is right.
“Mariota also performed well, so, like I said, we will have a center back and we are excited to play against a really good football team.”
The Raiders (7-7), however, will not have three defenders at the defensive end Clelin Ferrell (shoulder) and linebackers Nick Kwiatkoski and Nicholas Morrow, both on the reserve / COVID-19 list this week, entering the defensive back Daryl Worley and security guard Erik Harris on the list. Defense coach Jim O’Neil will not be available due to concerns about COVID-19.
Novice receiver Henry Ruggs III left the COVID-19 list, however, as did cornerback Isaiah Johnson. Offensive coordinator Greg Olson is also expected to return after leaving last week due to problems with viruses. 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 will have to do our best game of the year to win it,” said Gruden.