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Optimism rampant as Oakland Raiders camp opens

By The Sports Xchange
Oakland Raiders running back Latavius Murray (28) runs on a 22 yard touchdown in the first quarter against the San Diego Chargers at O.co Coliseum in Oakland, California on December 24, 2015. The Raiders defeated the Chargers 23-20 in overtime. Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI
Oakland Raiders running back Latavius Murray (28) runs on a 22 yard touchdown in the first quarter against the San Diego Chargers at O.co Coliseum in Oakland, California on December 24, 2015. The Raiders defeated the Chargers 23-20 in overtime. Photo by Terry Schmitt/UPI | License Photo

NAPA, Calif. -- Pretty much everyone was present and accounted for when the Raiders opened training camp Friday.

Although coach Jack Del Rio said at the close of the team's offseason program that was the goal, it was easy to be skeptical. Most every team has players that aren't ready to play, are wearing a red jersey for no contact or simply aren't ready to resume playing football in late August.

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Question marks for the Raiders included Karl Joseph, a first-round draft pick out of West Virginia and probable starting strong safety, free agent free safety Reggie Nelson and right tackle Austin Howard.

Joseph played only five games in his senior year with an ACL tear and didn't practice in the offseason. Neither did Nelson, who had an undisclosed injury, nor did Howard, who missed the end of the 2015 season with a knee injury.

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Yet all were practicing no with no restrictions, albeit in a non-contact first practice.

"For the most part, we're coming in to camp pretty healthy, and that's a good sign," Del Rio said. "It was a good first day."

The only veteran player on the physically unable to perform list is defensive end Denico Autry, who doesn't have a listed injury but arrived at the Napa Valley Marriott with one wrist in a splint.

The good health enables the Raiders to hit the ground running at a time when they are one of the trendy playoff picks after an absence of 13 seasons -- and in none of those years were the Raiders over .500.

Del Rio is pleased people think so much of his team after showing improvement last season at 7-9 and with a solid offseason of free agency, but realizes that doesn't count for much.

"Winning the division is our goal, and we're certainly not going to back away from anything like that," Del Rio said. "But how do you accomplish your goals? You put in the work. There's no shortcut to it.

"There's an eagerness here because the guys that are h ere see the work that's being put in, they see the accountability around them and you know, when you do good things, you can expect good things to be a result."

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Quarterback Derek Carr, who said with a straight face he was still thinking about playing in the Super Bowl when the Raiders started 0-10 in his rookie season in 2014, is toeing the company line.

"Talking to a lot of guys around the league, a lot of friends that I have, they all know we have a great group of guys here that don't get caught up in anything, good or bad," Carr said. "So far everybody is doing the right things."

Carr and defensive end Khalil Mack have gotten much of the offseason publicity and were popular among national media which attended camp on the first day. But Mack is similar to Carr in that he won't fall into the trap of thinking the Raiders are anything special until they prove it on the field.

"It's all about the mindset," Mack said. "We have the talent. I feel like the work we put in out there is going to give us the confidence when the season hits to go out and win games consistently. That's what we look forward to doing."

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