Raiders expect tranquil vibe for joint practices with Lions
NAPA, Calif. — The Raiders have had a peaceful training camp after nine days of practice.
It has been a fight-free zone so far in Jon Gruden’s return as Raiders coach, but tempers are starting to flare, and the Detroit Lions might be arriving at the right time to keep the peace among the silver-and-black teammates.
“Definitely looking forward to that,” Raiders running back Jalen Richard said of the back-to-back joint practices with the Lions starting Tuesday. “You always get tired of hitting up on your boys.”
The Raiders are optimistic the tranquil vibe will continue the next two practices while they play host to the NFC North squad. But that might be tough to accomplish, with fisticuffs often occurring during joint scrimmages.
Gruden said he has spoken with Lions coach Matt Patricia multiple times about what they want to focus on before Friday’s preseason opener between the teams at Oakland Coliseum.
The two coaches planned to meet in person Monday night.
“There’s an etiquette and a professionalism that we want to have, number one,” Gruden said. “We don’t want a bunch of screaming and yelling and brawling out here. We want to have good, solid, fundamental football. Teaching moments. See a different opponent, block some different looks and get better.
“It’ll be exciting. Hopefully our players, I know they will, will maintain good professionalism and get something out of it.”
Raiders linebacker Tahir Whitehead expects to have productive workouts against his former teammates. Whitehead spent his first six seasons in the NFL with the Lions before joining the Raiders in March as a free agent.
“They’re talking smack,” Whitehead said with a smile. “They’re coming in ready to work and we’re ready to work. It should be a good joint practice.”
The last time the Raiders participated in a combined workout was in 2014, with the Dallas Cowboys in Oxnard, California. Raiders and Cowboys players engaged that year in a large brawl that spilled into the stands and included fans.
Former Raiders coach Jack Del Rio never had a strong interest in having joint practices during his three-year tenure, which started in 2015.
Contact Gilbert Manzano at gmanzano@reviewjournal.com. Follow @GManzano24 on Twitter.
Notable
— Rookie Eddy Pineiro was in a battle with Giorgio Tavecchio for the Raiders’ starting kicker position but the Raiders abruptly decided on Saturday to cut Tavecchio.
Pineiro wasn’t handed the starting gig as the Raiders brought in veteran kicker Mike Nugent, who practiced Monday.
“(Nugent’s) got a lot of knowledge,” Pineiro said. “He’s played in the league for a long time, so learning from him has been a good experience so far.”
“It sucks that they let him go,” Pineiro said of Tavecchio. “He’s a great kicker. He’s helped me out a lot.”
— Safeties Karl Joseph (groin) and Marcus Gilchrist (foot) sat out Monday’s practice.
Gruden said he’s hopeful offensive lineman Gabe Jackson (undisclosed injury) and safety Erik Harris (finger) return to practice Tuesday. Rookie offensive lineman Brandon Parker (ankle) did side work Monday.
Running back DeAndre Washington left camp for personal reasons, according to Gruden.
— The Raiders signed free agent cornerback Raysean Pringle. In a corresponding move, the team waived injured defensive back Shaquille Richardson.
Gilbert Manzano Las Vegas Review-Journal
