Raiders Notes: Did Mack, Irvin Protest the Firing of Norton Jr.?

ALAMEDA – Edge rushers Bruce Irvin and Khalil Mack were given a rest day on Wednesday, which raised a few eyebrows.

Mack hadn't missed practice in months. Irvin hadn't been sidelined since the start of training camp. Both guys stretched and then left the field during individual drills a day after defensive coordinator Ken Norton was fired. Mack and Irvin were extremely loyal to Norton. An easy parallel could be drawn between the firing and Mack and Irvin's rare, non-injury related missed practice.

Head coach Jack Del Rio said Friday there was no connection.

"Not even in the slightest really," Del Rio said. "…We're in good shape. The guys understand. It wasn't anything personal."

Del Rio insisted the rest was designed and scheduled.

"It's something we do. It's kind of a ‘Woodson Wednesday,'" Del Rio said. "We did it a lot with Charles toward the end of his career. We've had good success with guys that have taken a heavy load, being smart with them on that Wednesday. So, it's just a rest day."

Irvin and Mack have declined to comment on Norton's firing and the missed Wednesday practice.

Johnny Holton concussion watch: Raiders receiver Johnny Holton is in the NFL's concussion protocol, though he should be cleared out of it before Sunday's clash against the Denver Broncos.

He ended up there in a roundabout way. The Raiders announced he was being evaluated for a concussion early in a 33-8 loss to New England, but returned later in the first half.

Then he missed Wednesday's practice with concussion-like symptoms. That raised a red flag. Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio explained the sequence of events in greater detail on Friday.

"I'm at the mercy of those that are the experts in that field. He got a scratch on his eye. That was what occurred there (against New England)," Del Rio said. "(He) came in this week and had some symptoms, so we put him into the protocol and he went through the protocol. I believe he's in the final steps now of clearing. We'll get that final clearance he'll play. If we don't, he'll be down.

"That's a question mark going in that hasn't yet been fully resolved, but since he came in and had the symptoms he had, those have gone away and everything else is checking out. We anticipate having him."

Horton is formally considered questionable on the team's official injury report. As a note, all head injuries are evaluated and diagnosed by independent medical personnel not directly affiliated with the team.

Amerson out again: Cornerback David Amerson will miss a fourth straight game with a foot injury that has kept him from practicing the last few weeks.

It just can't get right, leaving the Raiders with the same beleaguered cornerback corps from recent weeks, with Sean Smith and TJ Carrie expected to play significant snaps. Dexter McDonald remains in a mix joined by career safety Obi Melifonwu, who played cornerback Sunday against New England.

"There can be injuries, there can be anything," new defensive play caller John Pagano said. "He's got to take advantage of next time when he's called upon in those certain roles to be able to go out there and do the things that we need to do. there's always going to be growing pains with young players. He's got to grow up real quick and understand that we cannot let the ball go over our heads on those deep balls."

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