Carr is on track to start Saturday against the Dolphins
Derek Carr is on track to start over Marcus Mariota at quarterback for the Raiders on Saturday night against the Miami Dolphins.
Carr was a full participant in practice Wednesday, an indication he has recovered enough from a groin strain suffered in last Thursday’s 30-27 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers to convince coach Jon Gruden he’s good to go.
Carr was injured late in the first quarter while rolling to his right, with the strain occurring as he began to make a move toward the end zone. He pulled up for a 2-yard loss and the Raiders settled for a chip-shot field goal. Mariota came on to complete 17 of 28 passes for 226 yards, a touchdown and an interception and also rushed nine times for 88 yards in his first game in more than a calendar year.
There was a hint of things to come Tuesday when Carr took his regular turn before the media and said he planned on doing everything he could to be ready to play.
Carr is having his most productive year since 2016, completing 68.1 percent of his passes (303 of 445) for 3,396 yards, 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He has missed only two games since being a rookie starter in 2014, the season finale in 2016 because of a broken ankle, and one game in the middle of the 2017 season with three fractured bones in his back.
Mariota’s performance against the Chargers gives Gruden options. First, if Carr were to struggle either in terms of staying out of harm’s way or throwing the ball, he could switch to Mariota with confidence.
Second, and Gruden artfully dodged this question Tuesday, Mariota could be utilized on some plays, much the same way Sean Payton of New Orleans uses Taysom Hill in games where Drew Brees is the healthy starter.
COVID-19 UPDATES >> Linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski was added to the COVID-19 reserve list and won’t face the Dolphins. Cornerback Isaiah Johnson came off the COVID-19 list, although it’s not clear if he’ll be available to play Saturday. Wide receiver Henry Ruggs III, safety Erik Harris and cornerback Daryl Worley are all on the COVID-19 list. The Raiders hope to determine today if Ruggs can play.