Backups shine in Raiders’ preseason opener; Edwards hurt

Backups shine in Raiders’ preseason opener; Edwards hurt

The worst thing imaginable reared its ugly head Friday night in the Raiders’ preseason opener at University of Phoenix Stadium.

Edwards, who had just come back from a scary neck injury last season, left the locker room after the game on crutches.

The Raiders’ defense — and their first-team offense — didn’t look so great, but Oakland was bailed out, as it is in most preseason games, by backup quarterback Matt McGloin.

McGloin threw two touchdown passes in relief of starter Derek Carr, who completed 3 of 7 passes for 44 yards in two series.

Fourth-string running back George Atkinson put the game away with 53-yard and 35-yard touchdown runs.

The former practice-squad player made the most of his opportunity as rookie Jalen Richard missed the game with a knee injury.

[...] that was more than the first-round pick expected to, as the coaches and training staff have been bringing him along slowly in his return from knee surgery last year.

Rookie outside linebacker Shilique Calhoun had a mixed night.

Williams, who started 15 games last season, was out of shape in offseason workouts and has been behind Justin Ellis and Jihad Ward the first two weeks of training camp.

Backup quarterback threw his 11th and 12th career preseason TD passes, erasing all the interceptions he threw in training camp the past two weeks.

The fifth-round pick is trying to carve out a third-down role, and he showed his moves and burst with a 25-yard run and 32-yard catch.

An afterthought in the backfield, the RB showed off his elite speed when he bounced a run outside and flew down the right sideline for a 53-yard touchdown.