Raiders WR Deandre Carter From Training Camp

The 2023 training camp for the Las Vegas Raiders is progressing, and today wide receiver DeAndre Carter spoke, and we have his entire comments for you.

HENDERSON, Nev.--The Las Vegas Raiders have opened their 2023 NFL Training Camp, and wide receiver DeAndre Carter took to the podium to address the media.

You can watch his entire comments below., and read the transcript:

 Wide Receiver DeAndre Carter 

Q: It was a pretty physical practice out there. Did you guys enjoy it as players? Do you kind of welcome that? 

Carter: "For sure, first day of pads. It's always good to get out there and thump a little bit. It's going to be part of the identity of our team, so we've got to establish it now. We definitely welcome that as players." 

Q: Usually it's thumping, but you guys had some moments that where you tackled to the ground out there. Do you think that sort of thing could add some toughness to the team? 

Carter: "For sure, it definitely adds some toughness to the team. Got to establish it now, get out there -- especially for the young guys who haven't necessarily experienced it in the league before. It's definitely a good foundation to get it done at practice." 

Q: You were here before in the offseason. What are the big differences would you say from going from the team back then, to now just in terms of your confidence and just how things roll around here? 

Carter: "Me personally, it's just I'm older now. I know how to navigate things a little better, I would say, and it's just a different culture now, a different coaching staff. Everything is different now from when I was previously here. I love what we're doing now, and I would say more excited to be a part of this organization, for sure." 

Q: Every player on every team in the NFL today would say: 'Well, I'm always competing,' but when you're in a wide receiver room that is as incredibly as talented as the Raiders, does it feel like every rep is a competition, every rep is putting stuff on tape for everybody to see? 

Carter: "I mean like you said, that's everywhere around the league, but we've got a deep room, no lie. We've got a deep room from top to bottom, and every rep you want to go out there and put your best foot forward to make sure you're putting the best version of yourself on film and give yourself the best chance to go out there and compete and win the job. 

"But that should be your standard as a player in the league no matter where you're at, no matter how deep your receiver room is or not. You're just trying to go out there and compete and be the best of yourself." 

Q: In terms of last year, you established some career highs in targets, games, all that, and receptions. Do you feel like you found your niche or created your niche in this league? And how excited are you to kind of build off of that? 

Carter: "Very excited, and always the goal is to get better and improve, and that's all I'm focused on today. Being here this year and throughout camp is getting better every day, so that I can improve on the things that I did last year." 

Q: Do you think this offense kind of fits what your skill set is? 

Carter: "For sure."  

Q: You're not the biggest guy in the NFL, but you're tough. So are you glad pads are on because now you can lower a shoulder and show what you can do after the catch? 

Carter: "Exactly. For myself it's always: 'Football is not played in shorts and a T-shirt.' So, you get pads on there, and you've got to push crack on the safety, or break a tackle, or like you said, lower your pads down when you've got the ball kind of separates some people. I like that part of my game, and I was excited to be able to show it today." 

Q: Do you think the new rules are trying to take the kickoff return out of the game, and what would you feel about that if they kind of have? 

Carter: "I think the league is trying to take care of players. I think they said kickoff returns is one of the most dangerous plays in the league, and they're trying to [make it safe] it a little bit. I don't know necessarily how we are going to go about that this year. Hopefully, we get to return them, that's what I want to do, but we'll see what Coach Tom [McMahon] and Coach McDaniels want to do, and whatever they're riding with, I'm okay with." 

Q: Besides changing cities and states, how different does this organization feel to you now than when you were on the practice squad back in Oakland? 

Carter: "A lot different. Beautiful building, a different location, you guys that were in the Alameda building know the difference. But I love it here, I love it. We're building a great culture. It's a beautiful facility, beautiful stadium, and we're on the up and up, and I'm excited to be part of it." 

Q: Obviously, there's a lot of differences even from last year to this year. But you being on the Chargers having a really good game against the Raiders, what were some things about that defense that you kind of played against that you really liked? What were your thoughts on the Raiders defense from last year? 

Carter: "I mean, last year was last year, we're worried about this year. We've got new guys, new personnel, probably tweaked the scheme a little bit. So, we're worried about this year." 

Q: How happy were you with the weather today? 

Carter: "Extremely. Oh my God, it was beautiful out there today. I wouldn't count on how many days we're going to get -- what probably like 85 it felt like out there? Yeah, it felt like California. I don't know how many days are going to get like that, but taking advantage of them for sure." 

The Silver and Black open the preseason by hosting the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday, Aug. 13, at 4 p.m. EDT/1 p.m. PDT.

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