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ALAMEDA – Raiders quarterback Derek Carr was not at Tuesday’s practice during portions open to the media. The rookie has been banged up some this season, but hasn’t missed a start.
The team hasn’t stated the nature of his absence and isn’t obligated to after this practice session. The Raiders are starting their practice a week early to give players and staffers Christmas off on Thursday and, since the session comes before a typical Wednesday start of a game week, a formal participation report won’t be provided.
Raiders interim head coach Tony Sparano typically doesn’t provide injury details when he doesn’t have to. He’ll address the media later Tuesday afternoon.
Carr took a shot to his leg during Sunday’s victory over the Buffalo Bills, was tended to on the field and hobbled off, but he did not miss a snap. The Raiders called a timeout and Carr was able to re-enter the game.
“On that particular play, he got a knee into the glute area so it was kind of a weird thing,” interim head coach Tony Sparano said. “It was like a charley horse. But he felt it and wasn’t sure what it was at the time. When he came out, he was good walking around the sideline. The timeout just happened to come at the right time. We were getting down on the clock. We had Matt [Schaub] over the ball, but the clock was running down so we had to use a timeout there. Then, Derek was ready to go back in. Technically he had to come out for a play, unless you use the timeout.”
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Carr played extremely well at the end of the Sunday’s win, and executed without incident.
Carr dealt with ankle soreness the week prior, a loss at Kansas City, but did not miss a snap. He was limited in practice last week, due to thumb soreness.
Carr also suffered knee and ankle injuries in a Week 4 loss to Miami.
He missed time in that loss to Miami due to injury and was removed without ailment late in a blowout loss to St. Louis. He has not missed a start.
While this will be the most physically intense practice of the week, Carr could certainly play without hindrance despite missing Tuesday’s work.
Matt Schaub and Matt McGloin were taking reps at quarterback.
