Skip to main content

Raiders QB Matt Schaub out again with sore elbow

By WTOP Staff

JOSH DUBOW
AP Sports Writer

ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP) — Oakland Raiders quarterback Matt Schaub missed his second straight day of practice Monday with a sore throwing elbow that has lingered throughout the preseason.

Rookie Derek Carr took first-team snaps for a second straight day with Schaub serving as a spectator.

Schaub’s status for Thursday night’s exhibition finale against Seattle remains up in the air but he and coach Dennis Allen said they are confident he will be healthy enough to start the season opener Sept. 7 against the New York Jets.

“It’s been something that’s been around and we’ve been managing it and taking care of it,” Schaub said. “It just got to a point where we need to figure out what is really happening and just take care of it.”

Schaub said he has never dealt with this kind of soreness in his right elbow before but said he had no concerns that it would impact him this year.

Schaub has struggled so far in the exhibition season, leading the Raiders to just two scores in 15 drives as he’s failed to show that last year’s rough season in Houston was an aberration.

Schaub has completed just 51 percent of his passes this preseason and is averaging only 4.6 yards per attempt as he struggles to get the ball downfield. Schaub has completed just 2 of 13 pass attempts more than 10 yards past the line of scrimmage in three games but did not blame the elbow for that.

“It hasn’t really affected it,” he said. “It’s just bothersome. It’s something I noticed and it’s something that I just want to take care of and get out of the way.”

Allen said the issues with the first-team passing game are much deeper than just the quarterback, making it harder to get fixed. That task only becomes more difficult with Schaub missing key practice time less than two weeks before the season opener.

“Obviously that’s something you’d like to have, but you’ve got to have a little bit of foresight in getting ready for the opening game, and that’s what’s the most critical,” Allen said. “These preseason games are trying to prepare you for that. But ultimately, the true test is where are you at on opening day, and that’s where our focus is.”

The Raiders had been hoping Schaub could return to the level he reached earlier in his career in Houston when he posted five straight seasons with a passer rating of at least 90 and had three 4,000-yard passing seasons from 2008-12.

He dropped off significantly last season when he set an NFL record by having an interception returned for a touchdown in four straight games and lost his starting job to Case Keenum.

The developments with Schaub are eerily similar to what happened with Matt Flynn in Oakland last season. Flynn was acquired from Seattle in an offseason trade and was immediately named the starter by the coaching staff.

But Flynn struggled in practice and the preseason and then was held out of practice following the third exhibition game with tendinitis in his right elbow. Terrelle Pryor used that opportunity to take over as starting quarterback for the season opener. Flynn started one game when Pryor was hurt and was released shortly after that.

“I don’t know what happened here last year,” Schaub said. “I don’t know what happened with anybody who was here last year. I just know myself and what we’re going through right now.”

NOTES: LB Nick Roach (concussion) and RT Menelik Watson (hip) remain sidelined. … TE David Ausberry (knee) and CB DJ Hayden (right foot) worked out on the side with a trainer.

___

Online:

AP NFL website: 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