Raiders ‘con­cerned’ about Streater injury

ALAMEDA — The Raiders have an open roster spot available, but it doesn’t appear they’ll use it to activate Rod Streater from short term injured reserve.

The third-year receiver was placed on short term injured reserve on October 2 and began practicing two weeks ago. That leaves two practices left before the team has to shut him down for the year, which has head coach Tony Sparano concerned.

Streater started three games this season, totaling nine catches for 83 yards and a touchdown.

His absence has opened the door for other receivers, like Andre Holmes and Brice Butler, though each has had limited opportunities in an offense that stalled for the better part of the season.

Tight end Mychal Rivera has picked up a lot of the extra targets, and made the most of it. But that number two receiver has been absent, nobody has stepped up and claimed the role.

Sparano wouldn’t elaborate when asked Thursday, only stating that he’s concerned and that he and general manager Reggie McKenzie will speak at a later time to decide how to proceed.

In what’s believed to be the first time the Raiders have had to move practice indoors since Jon Gruden was head coach, the Raiders were limited in what they could do, but their plan worked well enough.

The team procured a facility which was left undisclosed to the media and got enough work to make the coaches feel confident. Of the move, Sparano said:

“It wasn’t really that big. I mean, to be honest we had seen the forecast and we went out last week in the rain, but with the way this thing was coming in and the wind and rain and any of those other things, it wasn’t much we were going to get accomplished there so we planned ahead and had the thing pretty well organized. We got good work in today. Guys handled it well.”

Alameda County received heavy doses of rain Wednesday, with up to five inches expected by the evening, leaving the Raiders practice facility basically unusable.

Defensive coordinator Jason Tarver also had positive things to say about the practice:

“I think the guys did a good job. (Sparano) set the mood this morning and players did a good job of responding. It’s not what happens, it’s what you do with it. So we went in and we got some good work in. Some good mental work and some good physical work as well.”

Notes

Safety Larry Asante (quad), cornerback Tarell Brown (foot, ankle), tight end Brian Leonhardt (concussion), receiver Denarius Moore (ankle, knee), defensive tackle Pat Sims (shoulder) and offensive tackle Menelik Watson (foot, ankle) did not practice Thursday. … The team has placed 10 players on injured reserve this season, and Streater could be 11. Leonhardt has missed the last three games with a concussion and may hit injured reserve as well. … Cornerback Chimdi Chekwa (shoulder) receiver Andre Holmes (shoulder) and  linebacker Sio Moore (hip) were limited in practice.

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