Filed for print . . .



NAPA _ There was nothing about Clive Walford’s first training camp practice that brought to mind some of the big days he had during the Raiders’ offseason program, but it was a start.



A third-round pick out of Miami, Walford caught a couple of passes in individual drills and none in full team sessions. Walford missed the first nine practices with an injury the Raiders didn’t disclose but was reported by ESPN as a hamstring strain.

“It felt great,” Walford said. “Coach tried to hold me back a little bit, but it felt great to be back out there with my teammates.

During organized team activities and minicamps open to the media in the offseason, Walford had the look of a potential starter, creating a buzz second only to Amari Cooper among offensive rookies.

As eager as Jack Del Rio was to see Walford in pads, he wants to see him in the regular season even more.

“The bottom line is to have your horses make it to the race,” Del Rio said. “I don’t try to win the Kentucky Derby on a donkey. So we’ll try and get our best guys to the finish in line. It’s important for them to get the work but it’s also important to have him healthy.”

With that in mind, Del Rio pulled the plug on Walford when he began to fade.

“I thought we got a good amount of work where I thought there might be fatigue involved wtih a couple of guys because they have not been working like the other guys,” Del Rio said.

At 6-foot-4, 250 pounds, Walford has deceptive speed and averaged 15.4 yards per on 44 receptions catch as a Miami senior, a high figure for a tight end. He conceded to feeling a step slow to begin the session.

“I thought I was in shape to actually run with the team, but I was a little bit behind in that category, but as practice kept going, I picked it up,” Walford said.

One area the Raiders will watch closely is Walford’s ability to block. When Walford was drafted, general manager Reggie McKenzie said he considered him an all-around tight end, and that skill was in evidence for at least one play Tuesday when he walled off 290-pound end C.J. Wilson.

“I took pride in my blocking when I was at Miami because people said I couldn’t block, so I tried to prove people wrong,” Walford said. “I just take blocking very seriously.”

Del Rio isn’t saying whether he’ll get Walford some time Friday when the Raiders host the St. Louis Rams in the preseason opener. Walford hopes to lobby for snaps with his play on the field during Wednesday’s practice.

“To be honest, man, I don’t know if coach is going to let me go,” Walford said. “So I’m going to try and work hard out there these next couple of practices. Hopefully he sees I’m healthy enough to go.”

— Also returning to practice Tuesday was tackle Menelik Watson, who was working with the first team at right tackle after giving way to Austin Howard for three sessions because of an undisclosed injury.

Michael Dyer, a free agent who had a strong opening to camp before missing several practices, got some work at running back.

Still out for the Raiders are tight end Lee Smith, linebacker Sio Moore and wide receiver Rod Streater, who remains on the non-football illness list.

— Del Rio downplayed any significance of Khalil Mack being listed as defensive end rather than strong side linebacker given that he essentially split his time between those two positions last year.

“He played a full season at (strong side) linebacker. He’s a sub defensive end, so he’s playing both anyway,” Del Rio said. “He’s a guy that will be able to do both.”

— Linebacker Malcolm Smith, the signed as a free agent from Seattle, has made a good impression on Del Rio from the weak side.

“He’s a veteran player, he understands what we’re trying to get done, he’s got a knack for stripping the ball,” Del Rio said. “I’m really excited about the way he’s working at it, applying himself.”