HENDERSON, Nev. – While Las Vegas Raiders coach Jon Gruden is the “optimistic” defender, Derek Carr will be active on Saturday against the Miami Dolphins, nine days after suffering a tense groin, Gruden will not announce who will start at the defender – Carr or Marcus Mariota.
“That’s my plan, right now, while I’m here,” Gruden said Thursday when asked specifically if Carr, the franchise’s main passer, would be in uniform.
“But again, these swallows are funny. You saw what happened on Thursday night. I mean, he’s running to his right and I haven’t seen him the rest of the game. So I’m not going to say anything other than I’m optimistic. But I’m not a mind reader. I just know he had an injury that made him miss the game last week and I’m respectful of that. He’s a tough guy, man. But I’m optimistic he’ll be ready to leave, yes. “
Regarding a chronology, Gruden said: “We will see what happens here [Friday] in terms of how we go, 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 representatives with Mariota, who replaced Carr after coming down late in the first quarter against the Los Angeles Chargers.
Mariota surprised the Chargers with her ability and desire to run the ball – she rushed for an 88-meter play with a 2-meter touchdown and went for 226 meters and a TD – in the 30-27 loss through overtime.
On Tuesday, Carr said he “will do everything he can to be on that field” against the Dolphins (9-5).
“Again, I think the best part of my game is my mind and it still works,” he said.
“I did everything I could to make myself available this week and I will continue to do my best to do that because I promised [Gruden] I would do that. That’s all 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 “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,” Gruden said. “I will make sure [Carr] is OK. I will make sure that, physically, he has to wake up in the morning and go through rehabilitation for another day, to do all the things he has to do against one of the top defenses, which blitz almost every game. So we have to do what is right.
“Mariota also performed well, so, as I said, we will have a defender under the center and we are delighted to play a very good football team.”
The Raiders (7-7), however, will be left without three defensive starters on defense Clelin Ferrell (shoulder) and defenders Nick Kwiatkoski and Nicholas Morrow, both entering the reserve list / COVID-19 this week, joining defensive back Daryl Worley and Erik Harris safety on the list. Defensive coach Jim O’Neil will not be available due to concerns about COVID-19.
Debutant receiver Henry Ruggs III left the COVID-19 list, however, as did defender Isaiah Johnson. Offensive coordinator Greg Olson is also expected to return after leaving last week due to virus issues. In addition, the Raiders defense is expected to regain security services Johnathan Abram (contusion), cornerback Damon Arnette (contusion) and defensive forward Maliek Collins, who has just returned from the injured reserve.
“We’re going to have to play the best game of the year to win it,” Gruden said.