Tackle Howard back to bolster O-line

It doesn’t look like right tackle Menelik Watson or his backup last week, Matt McCants, will play Sunday in the home opener against Atlanta. Luckily for the Raiders, seventh-year veteran Austin Howard returned to the practice field Wednesday and is ready.

Howard lost a “neck-andneck” competition, according to the coaches, at training camp to Watson. He missed Sunday’s game in New Orleans because of a sprained ankle. Meanwhile, Watson (groin) and McCants (knee) both were knocked out of that game, weren’t on the field for practice, and aren’t expected back this week, sources said.

Howard started the first 13 games last year before injuring his knee and missing the last three games. He had taken over the starting job when Watson ruptured his Achilles tendon in the third preseason game.

Rookie Vadal Alexander, who was inactive Sunday, would back up Howard.

Besides Watson and McCants, center Rodney Hudson (knee) and guard Gabe Jackson (knee) sat out practice as well. Both of their injuries are not considered serious.

The only other player on the injury report was running back Taiwan Jones, who sat out practice after sustaining a concussion. White Mamba: In crunch time, Raiders quarterback Derek Carr pretends he’s … Kobe Bryant?

“In my head, I’m a big Kobe fan,” Carr said before practice Wednesday. “That Mamba mentality. You have to go out there and you have to do it. I’ve studied him and watched him forever. That’s always been my mind-set when I get into close situations. They don’t always work out, but that’s where my mind is at.”

Carr said he slowed down the game Sunday, when he led the Raiders to 22 fourth-quarter points and a 35-34 win. He focused on his footwork and eye placement, he said.

“I definitely have worked on it,” Carr said. “There are times where I get emotionally hijacked, then I’ll try to force something and do something. I just tried the whole game to be my same competitive self, just with the same mentality, good or bad.”