NFL locals roundup: Teammates heap praise on Raiders’ Derek Carr after latest win

Raiders center Rodney Hudson is not surprised how much quarterback Derek Carr has progressed in just his second season.

Hudson has seen the rapid improvement since arriving with the Raiders this year after four seasons with the Kansas City Chiefs.

Carr completed 23 of 36 (63.9 percent) for 333 yards, four touchdowns and a passer rating of 130.9 in a 34-20 victory over the New York Jets at O.co Coliseum on Nov. 1.

“Derek is a pretty good young player,” Hudson said. “Smart, knows the offense well and prepares well. Most importantly, he’s doing a great job.”

The Jets’ Darrelle Rivas is also a firm believer in Carr, who went after the star cornerback on the Raiders’ first drive of the game though the pass to Amari Cooper was incomplete.

“Overall, Derek Carr is playing very hot right now,” Revis said.

The Raiders drafted Carr in the second round in 2014. All he’s done since is put up numbers. He recorded the fourth career 300-yard passing game and third of the season against the Jets, and also his fifth career multi-touchdown first half with three touchdowns in the first half. Carr now has 11 touchdowns and just one interception in first halves this season. He moved past Carson Palmer for 11th on the franchise’s career passing touchdowns list with 36 and has passed for 5,063 yards in his career.

“He can make all the throws,” Hudson said. “He knows where to throw the ball and knows the protection as well. You can see it … he’s confident and he’s playing really well right now.”

Raiders tight end Mychal Rivera echoed Hudson’s praise of Carr.

“He’s definitely a leader this year,” Rivera said. “He’s going to do some great things in this league. His leadership has stepped up and he definitely knows what’s going on. He’s going to be an elite quarterback in this league.”

Added Cooper: “He’s just paying attention to detail, executing, doing everything that the coach tells him to do.”

Carr is the fifth Raiders quarterback with 300 yards, four touchdowns and no interceptions in a game, and the first since Rich Gannon against Tennessee in 2002.

Hudson said he gets together with Carr during the week to talk about what they need to do on game days.

“We talk all the time about protection, defenses,” he said. “Not so much me telling him what to do, but we talk all the time about schemes and what we’re trying to do and what the defenses are trying to do. We just try to work together and keep getting better.”

Getting off to a fast start was imperative for the Raiders and Carr said he hopes to build off the 4-3 start.

“Just listening to what the coaches have taught us, trying to do that to the best of our abilities – and this team has learned how to do that,” he said. “We’re learning how to do that each week. As long as we just keep listening to our coaches and keep just taking the coaching like that, hopefully we’ll be able to continue to do it.”

▪ Jets defensive lineman Sheldon Richardson (College of the Sequoias) finished with two tackles and a pass deflection.

Et cetera – Fresh off being named NFL Rookie of the Month for October, Minnesota Vikings linebacker Eric Kendricks (Hoover) had seven tackles in a 23-20 win over Chicago. Bears receiver Marquess Wilson (Tulare) finished with a reception for 14 yards.

▪ Green Bay Packers receiver Davante Adams (Fresno State) made his return from an ankle injury, but the Packers lost 29-10 at Denver. Adams, who missed the past three games, had a reception for eight yards and was targeted twice. Broncos tight end Virgil Green (Tulare) finished with three receptions for 61 yards.

▪ St. Louis strong safety T.J. McDonald (Edison) recorded three tackles and a special teams tackle in the Rams’ 27-6 victory over the San Francisco 49ers.

▪ Cincinnati linebacker Chris Carter (Fresno State) had a tackle as the Bengals defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers 16-10. Bengals rookie safety Derron Smith (Fresno State) didn’t record a tackle. Steelers strong safety Robert Golden (Edison) started his third straight gameand finished with five tackles.

▪ New Orleans defensive tackle Tyeler Davison (Fresno State) tackled Shane Vereen in the second quarter for his only tackle as the Saints won a 52-49 shootout over the New York Giants.

▪ Tampa Bay left tackle Logan Mankins (Fresno State) started in the Buccaneers’ 23-20 overtime victory over Atlanta. Falcons tackle Bryce Harris (Tulare/Fresno State) was inactive.

▪ Carolina Panthers linebacker Ben Jacobs (Fresno State) had a special teams tackle in a 29-26 overtime victory over the Indianapolis Colts.

▪ Cleveland receiver Marlon Moore (Fresno State) saw action but didn’t record a stat in the Browns’ 34-20 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.

▪ Dallas fullback Tyler Clutts (Clovis/Fresno State) split time on offense and special teams but didn’t record a rushing stat or special teams tackle as the Cowboys fell to the Seattle Seahawks 13-12.

▪ Kansas City cornerback Steven Nelson (College of the Sequoias) didn’t pick up a tackle as the Chiefs routed the Detroit Lions 45-10.

▪ New England Patriots offensive lineman Ryan Wendell (Fresno State) saw action as the Patriots downed the Miami Dolphins 35-7.

▪ San Diego offensive tackle Kenny Wiggins (Fresno State) saw action as the Chargers lost 29-26 to the Baltimore Ravens. The Chargers signed receiver Isaiah Burse (Fresno State) to the practice squad on Wednesday.

This story was originally published November 4, 2015 at 5:26 PM with the headline "NFL locals roundup: Teammates heap praise on Raiders’ Derek Carr after latest win."