The defensive lineman admits he heard the doubters and naysayers, but believes he laid the foundation to take a step forward a year after being selected No. 4 in the draft.
Football
The former undrafted rookie free agent is now entering his fifth season as one of the longest-tenured players on the Raiders.
After opener, the Raiders are unlikely to be favored again until a Nov. 15 home game against the Broncos.
The Raiders coach, who said he didn’t falsely tell his players he had the coronavirus, is focused on getting his team ready for a season despite college conferences canceling fall football.
Oakland is just a half-game behind Kansas City in the AFC West and tied for the second wild card with two winnable games on the horizon.
The 26-year-old battled a drug problem that led to two NFL suspensions, including for the entire 2017 season when he was a member of the Ravens.
Fresno State wide receiver KeeSean Johnson enters his final game as the program leader in receptions and receiving yards. The Bulldogs play Arizona State on Saturday in the Las Vegas Bowl.
The 64-year-old former NFL coach and broadcaster Herm Edwards has his Arizona State Sun Devils on the verge of an eight-win season in his first year in charge of a college program.