ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Derek Carr is a bit of a risk-taker by nature when it comes to playing quarterback in the NFL. He isnt afraid of throwing a ball into coverage if he thinks his receiver has a good chance of winning a one-on-one battle with the opposing defender.While that approach sometimes frustrates quarterback coach Todd Downing and the rest of the coaching staff, he has their blessing to take some risks in the preseason and takes advantage of that.Sometimes I joke around a lot before, sometimes people are going to be mad at me for certain things in the preseason, you know? Carr said. Coach Downing always tells me, `Its a great opportunity to see what you can get away with. It really is. I take that, I guess, really to heart and do it.Carr gets his next chance to see what he can get away with when the Raiders host the Tennessee Titans on Saturday in the third exhibition game that will serve as the final dress rehearsal for the season opener.Carr and Oaklands first-team offense have not been particularly impressive the first two weeks, generating just two field goals in seven drives against Arizona and Green Bay.Carr is just 12 for 20 for 82 yards with one interception on the kind of chancy pass he doesnt regret this time of year. Last week against Green Bay, Carr threw a deep pass to Amari Cooper that was intercepted.Its things like the preseason that you can have those moments where its not a decision thats going to hurt us, but its a decision like if it works, its going to be a great thing for us, Carr said. If we can continue to build on that, you know, can that help us? And thats really all it is.Despite not putting up big numbers in the preseason, the Raiders are excited about the progress Carr is making in year three. He stepped in as a rookie and started all 16 games in a rough 2014. Oakland started that season 0-10 before winning three games and Carr averaged just 5.5 yards per attempt -- the second-lowest mark in team history.Carr took a big step forward last season when he threw for 32 touchdowns and 3,987 yards as Oakland improved to 7-9 behind an offense that was dynamic in the first half of the season before struggling late.Now with a second year in coordinator Bill Musgraves system and most of his skilled position players back, Carr is in even more command in 2016.So hes able to take it to the next level, take it to the graduate level from undergrad where he was last year and put his own spin on things, Musgrave said. He can solve the problems almost before the problems emerge there at the line of scrimmage. ... Weve definitely seen that day in and day out here in his second year.Game notes S Reggie Nelson, who has not practiced this week, is expected to miss the game with an undisclosed injury. ... Del Rio said he plans to play his starters for the first half and possibly into the third quarter. ... Undrafted rookie RB Jalen Richard, who has been impressive in practice, gets to play in a game for the first time after missing the past two weeks with an injury. Del Rio said he wants to see Richard and fellow rookie DeAndre Washington get some time with the first-team offensive line.---Online:AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP-NFL Cheap Custom Padres Jersey . Burke is expected to miss two to three months after breaking a finger in the teams third preseason game. Tinsley, a 10-year veteran, spent the last two seasons in Utah, where the point guard averaged 3. 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KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- Time is running out on the Kansas City Royals if they are going to make it back to the postseason.After advancing to the World Series the past two years and winning it all in 2015, the Royals take a 48-49 record into a three-game series Monday night against the Los Angeles Angels to close out this nine-game homestand.The Royals fell below .500 for the first time since May 15 after a 2-1 loss Sunday to the Texas Rangers. They have not won back-to-back games in July, a month where they have a putrid 6-13 record.It is time for the Royals to get it going if they are to remain in playoff contention.We thought about that like three weeks ago, Royals manager Ned Yost said. We can think it all we want. That doesnt help you. Weve got to get it going.The Royals are 9-36 when they score three or fewer runs.Its important to get all of our guys going again, Yost said. When you struggle offensively, generally, when we do it we do it as a team. Weve got to find ways to produce more offense.The Royals will start right-hander Ian Kennedy in the series opener. He is 0-3 with a 6.35 ERA in four career starts against the Angels. He lost a 6-1 decision on April 25 at Anaheim, when the Royals were swept in a three-game series and scored only seven runs in the three games.Albert Pujols is 4-for-10 with three home runs off Kennedy, while Mike Trout is 1-for-6.Kennedy has had trouble the third time through the lineup. They are hitting .215, 67-for-312, the first two times. On the third time,, hitters have a .dddddddddddd293 batting average with nine home runs and two doubles.The Angels will counter with right-hander Hector Santiago, who had his career-high 24 inning scoreless inning streak snapped in his previous start by the Rangers. He owns a 2.28 ERA in his past seven starts.Eric Hosmer is 6-for-19 and Alcides Escobar is 5-for-16 off Santiago.Shortstop Anrelton Simmons is batting .404 since June 23 and is the hottest Angels bat.The Angels lost 13-3 Sunday at Houston with Jose Altuve hitting two home runs and driving in five runs in the first two innings off Tim Lincecum, who was yanked after retiring only four batters and allowing eight runs.Pretty pathetic, Lincecum said after the poor performance. I wasnt putting the ball where I needed to at all, from the first pitch. I have a lot of work to do. Im confident in the process, that this is part of what Im going through right now. If it takes going through this, then it takes going through this.Lincecum wont start against the Royals and there is some uncertainty whether he will remain in the rotation with an 8.70 ERA and allowing nine home runs among his 54 hits, while walking 15 and allowing 31 runs, 29 earned, in 30 innings. His fastball is mostly 86-87 mile per hour.He has enough life on his fastball, Angels manager Mike Scioscia said. But he has to get it into better zones than weve seen. ' ' '
