NAPA, Calif. -- Khalil Mack, the reigning NFL defensive player of the year, took all three days of practice off this past week. So no, it does not look like the Oakland Raiders All-Pro edge-rusher will be suiting up for his team's preseason opener Saturday night at the Arizona Cardinals.
Instead, expect a healthy dose of James Cowser, who received Mack's first-team reps in practice, and a load of advice from Mack himself.
"He knows the game so well," Cowser said this week, recalling the different lessons Mack imparted.