Hue Jackson threw new QB Carson Palmer into the second half of the Raiders game against the Kansas Chiefs after only 4 days working with his new team. The results weren’t good, as Palmer was 8 for 21 for 116 yards and three interceptions, one of which was returned for a touchdown.
But the relationship and timing between a quarterback and his receivers takes time to develop, and four days is woefully inadequate to accomplish that. Now the Raiders have the advantage of a bye week before they play again, and Palmer and his receivers are focused on getting some extra time in to work on timing with his receivers.
The NFL Mandates four days off through the weekend, but that doesn’t prevent Palmer and the receivers from getting together without the coaching staff.
Four key receivers all indicated that they had no plans to leave town – Darrius Heyward-Bey, Jacoby Ford, Louis Murphy and Derek Hagan.
“We’re going to have to work hard and get good with him, just to get the timing down and be here with him,” Ford said. “That’s on my mind right now.”
Murphy said, “We’re going to stay around, work out, catch some balls with him. I don’t know exactly how it’s going to go, but that’s the plan.”
“I understand that it’s bye week for these young receivers, and it’s time to get away a little bit and let your mind go somewhere else, because hopefully there’s a long road ahead of us,” Palmer said. “But it’s also time to get some work done, get that timing and rhythm and get going.”
