Raiders Training Camp: All eyes on upcoming scrimmage

COSTA MESA, Calif. — After taking a day off Thursday, the Raiders got right back to work and the offense picked up right where it left off during day seven of training camp Friday.

Friday also marked the last practice before the Raiders will have a scrimmage Saturday and without any joint practices leading up to the preseason opener against the Minnesota Vikings next week, this provides a chance for either quarterback to make progress in the competition for the starting role.

When asked about the plan for Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew during the scrimmage, Antonio Pierce said the two will continue to split reps.

”They’ll split reps just like we’ve been doing… even going into Minnesota, everything will be 50/50.” 

O’Connell steps up without Adams 

Before practice, Pierce said he doesn’t have a date in mind to pick who will start for the Raiders week one, although he would like to see more consistency under center.

“It would be good to see Gardner go out there and have another good day and then Aidan pick it up.”

Both quarterbacks were able to build on the success of Wednesday, despite the absence of star wideout Davante Adams, who returned to Las Vegas awaiting the birth of his son.

O’Connell took snaps  with the first team and looked more comfortable under center, tossing a couple of touchdowns, one to Tre Tucker down the sideline during 7-on-7 and another to Brock Bowers to end a 2-minute drill during 11-on-11.

Jakobi Meyers stepped up in place of Adams out wide and O’Connell found him multiple times during 11-on-11.  

A week into camp, Luke Getsy’s offense has slowly started to catch up to Patrick Graham’s defense, but the slow start is to be expected when the offense is in year one while the defense is in year three.

Both quarterbacks will have another opportunity to separate themselves during the scrimmage tomorrow.

Rookie stand-outs

Bowers found the end zone during 11-on-11, but to the inside of him, D.J. Glaze has had a productive start to his first NFL training camp.

Glaze has leaned on veterans like Thayer Munford and Kolton Miller, but he also gave credit to former Raider Richie Incognito for helping him out.

”After every rep I do, [he says] ‘Hey I saw this’ or ‘you could do this’ then I take that to the next rep, the next period, whatever and it helps. You could see it translate from what he’s telling me, to on the field,” Glaze said.

Dylan Laube had another productive day working with both the offense and on special teams. The rookie from New Hampshire has been a pleasant surprise to his teammates and coaches alike, but Laube isn’t surprised.

”I always believed in myself, but at the same time man, I’m just taking it one step at a time. I’m just trying to take all my reps and learn from everyone too.”

Laube and the rest of the rookies will finally have a chance to showcase their abilities in a game-like scenario during tomorrow night’s scrimmage.