**
Raiders Head Coach Dennis Allen:** Really nothing to update as far as injuries are concerned. [Jared] Veldheer didn't practice today. It was a precautionary measure. He went over and got an MRI on a triceps. The MRI was negative. He should be out practicing tomorrow.
Q: How is it to have Jacoby Ford back?
Coach Allen: He's a talented athlete. He's missed a lot of time, so it's important for him to get out here, compete, and for us to get chance to really see what he can do because we had him for such a limited time last year. Really, we had him for a little bit of a limited time this year, so it will be good for us to get him out here, let him compete and see what he can do.
Q: As far as tackling goes, do you, at any point during camp, let them take guys to the ground?
Coach Allen: Well we practiced goal line today, so that was part of the tackling deal. I don't anticipate a lot of stuff in the open field tackling-wise. It'll be more drill work than team work with full contact tackling.
Q: Did you have Jacoby [Ford] go full [contact] today?
Coach Allen: Yeah. We limited his reps a little bit, but as far as what he can do, we didn't limit it. We just didn't give him as many reps as maybe we would have originally.
Q: Did Jared [Veldheer] get injured yesterday?
Coach Allen: I think it's really just more of a sore triceps situation. We just wanted to make sure everything was fine, so we took him over and had an MRI. Everything was negative. We anticipate him being out and ready to go tomorrow.
Q: [Vance] Walker was out yesterday and back today, correct?
Coach Allen: It's just one of those things. It's one of those little nagging injuries. It's the same thing. It's nothing new.
Q: You've got the first game coming up. Will Matt [Flynn] get more reps because of the fact that he hasn't played a lot in previous years, or is it going to be the same kind of approach you had last year with [formers Raiders QB] Carson [Palmer].
Coach Allen: It'll be similar. We can evaluate that as we get closer. We haven't even talked about playing time for the Dallas game yet. We're really more focused on what we're doing here in camp, trying to get better. We'll talk more as we get closer about exactly how much we're going to work, but Matt's going to need to get some work in the preseason – I don't think there's any question about that. So, we want to make sure we get him enough work so that he'll be ready to go when the regular season comes around.
Q: How do you think that [Khalif] Barnes has done over the course of camp? It seems like some other guys keep pushing him.
Coach Allen: I've been very pleased with Khalif Barnes. I think he's done a good job for us. Now, I do think that there are some guys, like Alex Barron, who have had a nice camp so far. I'm really anxious to see what a guy like that does when he gets into the preseason games, and see if what he's been doing out here on the practice field translates into the game.
Q: You sat down Veldheer today, I know you said it was precautionary …
Coach Allen:I think when someone goes down it's an opportunity for someone else. I think that's the way you always have to look at it. Injuries happen in this game, and if something were to happen to Jared during the season or training camp, wherever the place may be, somebody has to play that role. I think it's good to get Alex [Barron] in that role and see what he can do.
Q: This is the first time talking to you since Sebastian [Janikowski] signed his extension. How comforting is that for the coach?
Coach Allen:Well I think that's great. I think he's one of the best kickers to ever play this game. I think he's a weapon for us. I've said any time we cross the 50 [-yard line], we're near in field-goal range anyway. I think it's a huge weapon to have a guy like him who puts points on the board for you, so I'm glad we have him.
Q: You have a lot of others guys like that who are entering the last year of their contracts. Are you of the mind to try to get those worked out now or do you just save that stuff for [General Manager] Reggie [McKenzie]?
Coach Allen:Obviously I'm not going to get into negotiations, but there are some players on this team we would like to go ahead and shore up.
Q: Terrelle Pryor made several big plays today, like the long pass to Brice Butler for the touchdown. How is he progressing, especially the past couple days?
Coach Allen:I think Terrelle is progressing. I think he really showed some of the things he can really do well like throwing that deep ball; it was a heck of a play and a heck of a throw. At the end of the day, all Terrelle has to worry about is keep his head down and keep working. But he has improved and he's gotten better every day, and that's what we expect.
Q: You talked a lot about the wide receivers all through camp. What do you see from them?
Coach Allen:I'm still looking to see who the guy is that's going to really separate themselves from everybody else. I do like the group. I do think we have some talented players, and I'm going to continue to challenge them to raise the level of expectation, raise the bar. We've done that and they've responded and that's what I'm looking for.
Q: What are some of the tangible signs of progress that you've seen from Sio Moore from Week One to Week Two?
Coach Allen:Well I think he's getting more comfortable in the scheme, more comfortable understanding what we're asking him to do. I think Sio is a power player. I think he does a nice job for us setting an edge on the line of scrimmage. Obviously he has pass rush ability – I want to see that continue to approve. When I look at Sio Moore, one, I like his intensity, two, I think he brings a stoutness and a strength to the defense.
Q: With so many injuries on the interior defensive line, you said you need someone to step up. What have you seen from the young guys that are getting more reps at that position?
Coach Allen:I've seen them improve, but I still think we have a long way to go there with some of these young guys. Christo Bilukidi is a guy that I'm counting on to step up and make some plays. He got off to a slow start in camp, but he's been better the last few days, but he's got to continue to improve on a daily basis. Stacy [McGee], it's just having him be out here on a consistent basis. For us to be able to count on him, we say it all the time, you have to be available and you have to be accountable, and that's what we're looking for.
Q: It looked like Jack Crawford got some time inside. Was that the plan anyways?
Coach Allen:Yeah. Well I think some of it is due to the fact that we're a shorthanded inside, but the plan all along was to get him some work inside, especially in the nickel downs, and see what he can do in there.
Q: You had Sio Moore at the Senior Bowl, what did you see there, and do you see the same guy here?
Coach Allen:Same things I see now: A guy that loves football [and] a guy that gets after it and enjoys coming out to work every day. He's exactly what we thought he was going to be when we had the opportunity to work with him in the Senior Bowl. Q: How important was that Senior Bowl for you guys as a coaching staff?
Coach Allen:It was big. We drafted Sio Moore after we had him on our team in the Senior Bowl, obviously Nick Kasa also, both those guys were on our team [and] Mychal Rivera was on the opposite team. That's an experience that is a positive in that you get a chance to really get a good feel for these guys, [but] it's something we don't want to have to experience again.
