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ALAMEDA – Tony Sparano wasn’t obligated to say why quarterback Derek Carr missed Tuesday’s practice. The practice week has been adjusted to give players and staffers Christmas Day off, meaning the Raiders interim head coach didn’t have to reveal injuries on a formal participation report.
Sparano spilled the beans anyway. That’s how little a deal it was.
The rookie was out sick on Tuesday afternoon in an attempt to get well before Sunday’s regular-season finale at the Denver Broncos.
“He came in a little sick today, so I sent him home,” Sparano said.
[RELATED: Raiders QB Derek Carr not practicing]
Sparano said he expects to see Carr at Wednesday’s practice, but that would be a decision made closer to the session itself.
All told, this is good news for the Raiders. Their quarterback has taken some tough hits this season. He hurt his left ankle and knee in Week 4, rolled that same ankle in Week 15 and took a knee to his upper leg on Sunday against Buffalo.
He hasn’t missed a start this season and hasn’t missed a snap due to injury since a Week 4 loss to Miami in London. He was limited in one practice last week due to thumb soreness.
It’s extremely unlikely that this illness would have any impact on his play at Denver.
Other injury notes from Raiders practice:
-- Cornerback TJ Carrie did not practice on Tuesday. He’s been limited in recent weeks with an ankle injury, but it’s tough to draw evaluations from players missing a Tuesday practice. It’s typically an off day for players, so some may just need time to rest minor injuries. Carrie played most every snap in Sunday’s victory.
-- Practice squad defensive lineman Shelby Harris, a 2014 seventh-round pick, inferred via twitter that he’d been promoted to the active roster. There’s no word on a corresponding move, though the Raiders have several candidates to go on season-ending reserve with just one game remaining.
That list includes tight end Brian Leonhardt (concussion) and right tackle Menelik Watson (foot, ankle)., who haven’t played in weeks due to injury. Neither player practiced on Tuesday.
-- Including Leonhardt and Watson, cornerback Chimdi Chekwa and receivers Vincent Brown and Denarius Moore were not seen at practice.
-- NOTE: The Raiders did not submit a formal participation report because they practiced on a Tuesday, before a game week typically begins. The team will do so after Wednesday’s practice.
