ALAMEDA – Donald Penn played 17 snaps during Friday’s exhibition against the Green Bay Packers, pass protecting 10 times, and helping the run on seven others.
He re-watched that effort, and didn’t love what he saw. It certainly didn’t meet Penn’s lofty standard, nor was it expected to while playing a new position in his first game back from foot surgery.
“I looked rusty,” Penn said Monday. “I have a lot of work ahead of me. I knew that going into that game, and I know that going into this week. I knew going into the game that it was going to be tough. I was excited to try it out live. I wished I could’ve done some things a lot better than I did. I saw some things I need to fix and work on.”
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It wasn’t all bad, with reasons for optimism and smoother play in the future.
Testing a foot that underwent Lisfranc surgery last December was the first order of business. Penn left the field more confident that his foot could withstand a physical game and help him plan and pivot strong.
The technical stuff? Penn can work on that, and has been putting significant effort into playing right tackle right.
“As a left tackle, I have a sweet rhythm over there,” Penn said. “I get in that stance right now and show you exactly how to do it. I’m trying to find that rhythm at right tackle right now. It’ll come with time and repetition. I’m telling my guy to go hard each rep because I need the work. The time I have, the more comfortable and confident I’ll be.”
NFL
While putting Penn on the right while keeping first-round pick Kolton Miller on the left remains an experiment, the Raiders are confident it will work out. Gruden is confident Miller will start on the left side, and hopes Penn can remain on the right.
“I thought for his first time back on the field in a long time,” Gruden said, “Going against the first team in the Packers, I thought he did some good things.”
Harris wins return job
The Raiders were able to trade Ryan Switzer earlier Monday and put Griff Whalen on injured reserve with turf toe because they have the return man they want. Dwayne Harris will be Gruden’s guy returning punts and kicks. The former Pro Bowler was always the frontrunner for that gig, though competition was brought in. Harris is also a gunner in punt coverage and a good one at that, which helped make him a roster lock.
Harris hadn’t played a game since last October before getting action against Green Bay. His fractured foot is healed and didn’t temper the great speed he flashed a few times on Friday night.
“It was nice to shake the cobwebs off and get after it, and do what I do best,” Harris said. “No job is safe, but I came out here and did what they expected me to do.”
Nugent could kick in Week 1
Raiders rookie kicker Eddy Piñeiro remains out with a groin injury, leaving Mike Nugent to handle his responsibilities these past two games. Gruden admitted it’s possible Nugent plays that role to start the season, Piñeiro’s status in question.
“It’s possible, very possible,” Gruden said. “He’s an 80 percent kicker for 13 years. I don’t know what the exact percentage is, but he’s a good kicker. He’s been a good kicker for a long time. You don’t make it in this business unless you are. He’s got the mental toughness, the reliability to overcome a bad game or a bad kick. Right now, he’s the leader in the clubhouse because Eddy is not healthy.”