Raiders’ Jon Gruden declines comment on Colin Kaepernick workout

Coach Jon Gruden dodged a question about whether the Raiders planned to send a representative to Colin Kaepernick’s workout on Saturday in Atlanta.

“I don’t know,” he said after Wednesday’s practice at the team’s facility. “I’m going to answer questions about the Bengals.”

NFL teams were invited Tuesday by the league to watch the polarizing free-agent quarterback go through an on-the-field workout and interview him. Teams that choose not to attend will be provided video of both sessions.

The league is reportedly conducting the session in response to requests from several teams about Kaepernick’s status.

Kaepernick, 32, has not played since 2016 when his protests of racial injustice and police brutality sparked controversy.

“I’m just getting word from my representatives that the NFL league office reached out to them about a workout in Atlanta on Saturday,” he tweeted Tuesday. “I’ve been in shape and ready for this for 3 years, can’t wait to see the head coaches and GMs on Saturday.”

It’s highly unlikely any head coaches will be present Saturday.

Several teams, including the Dolphins, Lions, Falcons and Redskins have told ESPN they will have a representative in attendance.

Kaepernick reached a settlement with the NFL in February after filing a grievance alleging collusion among NFL teams to deny him a job because of the controversy.

Respect the opponent

While the Bengals enter Week 11 with the league’s worst record at 0-9, the Raiders aren’t taking them lightly.

Both Gruden and quarterback Derek Carr cited No. 1 Kentucky’s loss to Evansville and the Saints’ Week 10 loss to the Falcons as evidence for why the Raiders can’t lose their focus.

“There’s plenty of examples out there,” Gruden said. “You’ve just got to remind some of the young people that you can’t believe everything you read, everything you hear these days.”

Carr is also plenty familiar with a team going through this kind of rough start. When he was a rookie in 2014, the Raiders lost their first 10 games before an upset victory over the Chiefs on “Thursday Night Football” in Week 12.

“Who says it wouldn’t click this week?” Carr said.

While the Bengals are winless under first-year head coach Zac Taylor, Gruden noted the team’s veterans still pose significant challenges.

“If you don’t respect Geno Atkins and Carlos Dunlap, if you don’t think Will Jackson and Joe Mixon are great players, then you better get some film and look at it,” Gruden said.

Injury report

The Raiders had nearly everyone on their active roster on the field for Wednesday’s practice — a good sign coming off “Thursday Night Football.”

But slot cornerback Lamarcus Joyner was not on the field as he deals with a hamstring injury.

“I think he’s getting better,” Gruden said. “I would say he’s questionable at best right now for the game.”

Defensive end Josh Mauro, who hasn’t played since Week 8 because of a groin injury, was back on the field in a limited capacity. Running back Josh Jacobs (shoulder), right tackle Trent Brown (knee), center Rodney Hudson (ankle) and offensive tackle David Sharpe (calf) also were limited.

Linebacker Tahir Whitehead (shoulder) and wide receiver/return specialist Dwayne Harris (foot) were both full participants.

Wide receiver A.J. Green did not practice Wednesday. After reportedly being close to playing last week, Green suffered a setback with his ankle injury, which could keep him sidelined for a significant amount of time.

Review-Journal reporter Myles Simmons contributed to this report.

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Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on Twitter.