With a smile on his face walking to the podium, Josh McDaniels seemed to be in good spirits.
It was the first time the Raiders head coach had spoken with the local media in a little over a month. Following OTAs, staff and players took the opportunity to get away from football and mentally prepare for the upcoming season. While it's imperative for players to keep active during the break and stay in shape, McDaniels sees the benefits the relaxation has served for him and his team.
"Enjoy your family and relax, take some stress off your day-to-day routine and do things that you have the opportunity and the right to do at this time of the year," McDaniels said reflecting on the offseason. "And then when you're ready to come back, hopefully they report and they're refreshed and excited and rejuvenated and recharged. I think our staff did that a couple of days ago, and you could see that. I think the players reported much the same."
The Raiders veterans reported to Training Camp on Tuesday morning while rookies and quarterbacks arrived a few days ago. This will be McDaniels' second camp with the Las Vegas Raiders, with a lot to be settled going into the 2023 season. The influx of depth on the roster and new pieces will make for a competitive environment at all positions.
"[W]hen you know that there's guys in your room that are trying to earn playing time that would otherwise go to you, it just makes you work that much harder," said McDaniels. "It makes you study and prepare hard. ... Some positions, as you guys know, changed a little bit more than others this spring and this offseason, but I think we've tried to build competition at every spot we could.
"Now is the time for them to go out there and get opportunities and determine what their role is going to be. We've always told them that their role will be what they make it, and that means if they get opportunities and what they do with it, it's important."
McDaniels also discussed the quarterback position, specifically Jimmy Garoppolo. After missing all of OTAs due to a foot injury sustained last season, Garoppolo will have no restrictions once practices start Wednesday morning, according to the head coach. The former New England Patriot and San Francisco 49er provides a skill set and mentality McDaniels admires in his players, and he's hopeful the QB's return to the field will be seamless.
"We're excited about the things that he does well," McDaniels said of Garoppolo. "I know he's eager to try to improve on some things that maybe he didn't feel he was ready to do at a high level, and we'll try to address those and identify those as we go.
"But he's generally given his football team an opportunity to win and I think the most important number for me at that position – it's really the only one I care about – is does he get wins on the board? Generally, he has done that."
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Take an exclusive look outside Intermountain Health Performance Center as the Raiders arrive for 2023 Training Camp.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Marcus Epps (1) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Jaquan Johnson (26) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Luke Masterson (59) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Cole Fotheringham (85) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Darien Butler (58) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders offensive lineman Vitaliy Gurman (73) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders center Andre James (68) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Keelan Cole Sr.(84) and wide receiver Jakobi Meyers (16) arrive for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Isaiah Pola-Mao (20) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Davante Adams (17) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle Thayer Munford Jr. (77) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Bilal Nichols (91) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders long snapper Jacob Bobenmoyer (50) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Robert Spillane (41) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Robert Spillane (41) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders tackle Kolton Miller (74) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders offensive lineman Jordan Meredith (61) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Cam Sims (81) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive lineman Adam Butler (69) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Sam Webb (27) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders punter AJ Cole (6) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders guard Dylan Parham (66) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders guard Netane Muti (54) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive lineman Jerry Tillery (90) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle John Jenkins (95) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive lineman Jerry Tillery (90) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Chris Lacy (15) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders kicker Daniel Carlson (2) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Austin Walter (32) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver DJ Turner (19) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Chandler Jones (55) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Chandler Jones (55) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Sincere McCormick (47) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Brittain Brown (38) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Curtis Bolton (36) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders fullback Jakob Johnson (45) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Kristian Wilkerson (83) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders offensive lineman Alex Bars (64) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Jesper Horsted (80) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end O.J. Howard (88) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Nate Hobbs (39) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Divine Deablo (5) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Amik Robertson (21) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Tyler Hall (37) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Bryce Cosby (44) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Malcolm Koonce (51) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Marcus Peters (24) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders offensive lineman Hroniss Grasu (65) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Ameer Abdullah (22) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Brandon Bolden (34) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Kana'i Mauga (43) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Duke Shelley (23) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White (35) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders running back Zamir White (35) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver DeAndre Carter (3) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders tight end Austin Hooper (82) and safety Tre'von Moehrig (25) arrive for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Tre'von Moehrig (25) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Brandon Facyson (31) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders guard/tackle Jermaine Eluemunor (72) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive tackle Matthew Butler (94) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders wide receiver Phillip Dorsett (11) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders cornerback David Long Jr. (28) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
Las Vegas Raiders safety Roderic Teamer (33) arrives for 2023 Training Camp at Intermountain Health Performance Center.
