Skip to main content

X-rays on Raiders QB Derek Carr negative

By WTOP Staff

JOSH DUBOW
AP Sports Writer

ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) — Oakland Raiders rookie quarterback Derek Carr avoided a serious rib injury from a hard hit that knocked him out of an exhibition game against the Detroit Lions.

Coach Dennis Allen said Saturday that X-rays on Carr’s ribs were negative and he is feeling much better than he did immediately after the injury.

Carr also suffered a concussion on the hard hit by Larry Webster on Friday night and must pass the league protocols before he is able to return to practice this week.

Carr played well in his second pro game, completing 9 of 16 passes for 109 yards and a touchdown, leading three scoring drives and committing no turnovers. He even got one series with the first-team offense.

“I did see a lot of improvement,” Allen said. “I saw some improvement in his accuracy, I saw some improvement in his reads, I saw some improvement on his touch passes.

I think that’s a positive sign. There’s still obviously a lot of room for improvement and room for growth, but I did see him take a step forward from his first preseason game.”

Despite the strong performance, Carr is not expected to get more time with the starters in the dress rehearsal game at Green Bay on Friday.

Matt Schaub, who had an up-and-down performance in the 27-26 win over Detroit, will get the bulk of that time as Oakland tries to get him ready for the season opener against the New York Jets on Sept. 7.

“Our game plan, probably, going in is to get some significant work for the 1s, because when you get into that fourth preseason game, they’re probably not going to get as much work,” Allen said. “I think we’ll see a lot of Matt Schaub in this game.”

Schaub threw a deflected interception to stop a promising first drive and then kept the ball only three plays before punting the next two times Oakland had the ball.

Schaub recovered to lead a TD drive with help from three Detroit penalties before leaving the game.

In seven drives this preseason, Schaub has led the Raiders to one score and has not completed a single pass more than 10 yards downfield.

On other injury news, safety Tyvon Branch has an ankle injury that is not serious, but might force him to miss a day or two of practice.

Backup safety Usama Young is expected to be activated off the physically unable to perform list this week after injuring his quadriceps in a conditioning drill before the start of training camp.

Second-year cornerback DJ Hayden is still not ready to return to practice from a stress fracture in his right foot. Hayden injured the foot in May and had surgery in late June.

Allen also said the team will likely sign a tight end this week after Nick Kasa tore the ACL in his left knee during a joint practice with the Dallas Cowboys last week. David Ausberry is also out with an injured left knee.

___

AP NFL websites: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL

Copyright 2014 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
Read Next Story

Related News

Frustration grows in Venezuela as earthquake death toll reaches 1,430

Israel and Lebanon sign framework agreement with US in ‘first step’ toward peace, Rubio says

Trump-endorsed populist poised to become Colombia’s next president as rival challenges vote