by Matt Kawahara
mkawahara@sacbee.com
NAPA -- Linebacker Aaron Curry, who has not practiced with the Raiders in training camp due to a knee injury, is set to see a specialist in Los Angeles as his recovery is not going as the Raiders had hoped, head coach Dennis Allen said.
Curry, projected as the Raiders' starting weak-side linebacker, has been hampered by knee problems most of the offseason. Allen said Friday that Curry is "just not getting to where we want him to be. He'll go down and we'll let him get basically a second opinion and see if we can't do something to get him better."
Curry told CSN Bay Area's Paul Gutierrez last week that he has received stem-cell treatments on both knees in an effort to expedite his recovery. Curry has been a regular around the practice field jogging on the sidelines and helping instruct other linebackers.
Rookie Miles Burris has continued to work with the first-team defense in Curry's absence and intercepted a Matt Leinart pass Friday.
* Running back Mike Goodson watched practice Friday and rode an exercise bike but said he doesn't know when he'll be getting back onto the field. Goodson was hospitalized following a collision with linebacker Philip Wheeler in practice Tuesday, but was released later that night after a CT scan and MRI came back negative.
"Right now it's just a little soreness left in my neck, kind of like having a crick in your neck when you wake up in the morning or something like that," Goodson said. "A little more intense than that, but that's pretty much it."
Allen said there is no timetable for Goodson to begin practicing again. With Taiwan Jones (hamstring) also out right now, Lonyae Miller is getting a lot of carries behind McFadden in practice and will probably shoulder the bulk of carries in the preseason opener Monday. Fullbacks Marcel Reece and Rashawn Jackson have also carried the ball.
* Safety Tyvon Branch was held out of Friday's practice with a back spasm. Receiver Darrius Heyward-Bey (knee), tackle Zach Hurd (blow to the head) and tight end Brandon Myers (shoulder) did not finish practice. Myers got tangled up with safety Mike Mitchell on a pass play and rolled on the ground, stayed down and then walked off with a trainer.
"I don't think any of them are real serious injuries, but we'll see as we go along," Allen said. "Brandon Myers is probably the one where we'll see."
Not practicing again Friday were Curry, Goodson, defensive end Jack Crawford (foot), running back Taiwan Jones (hamstring), punter Shane Lechler (knee), receiver Eddie McGee (hamstring), receiver Denarius Moore (hamstring) and defensive end Richard Seymour (knee).
* Kicker Eddy Carmona hit an upright on four in a span of five field goal attempts toward the end of practice.
* After Myers left the field, Richard Gordon appeared to take his spot with the first-team offense and had a couple of catches. Gordon has been considered a blocking-first tight end but has caught the ball well this offseason.
* With Moore out, receiver Jacoby Ford has been first in line for returning punts. That's a different task for Ford, who has returned kicks the past two years but not punts. Moore led the Raiders last year with 25 punt returns.
"He's getting better," Allen said of Ford. "Obviously with Denarius with his hamstring, he hasn't been able to be out there, but I see Denarius fielding punts for us, I see Jacoby fielding punts for us."
* The Raider Nation Celebration event will be held Sunday from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. in the south parking areas of O.co Coliseum. The event includes introduction of Raiders players and children's activities. Admission and parking are free. More information can be found here.
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