NAPA Bruce Smith Jersey , Calif. (AP) Jon Gruden targeted Paul Guenther as his defensive coordinator in his return to Oakland even before he got the Raiders job, believing his aggressive defensive scheme was just what the team needed to reverse years of bad play.

Guenther’s task has been even harder than originally thought because he is still waiting to get Oakland’s best defensive player in camp.

Star edge rusher Khalil Mack skipped the entire offseason program and now extended his holdout into training camp as he seeks a long-term contract commensurate with the skills of one of the NFL’s top defensive players.

”I really can’t worry about that right now,” Guenther said Sunday after Oakland’s first padded practice. ”I’m just trying to coach the guys who are out here. Obviously when he gets here, if he gets here, he’ll be an exciting piece to add.”

There is no indication of when that time will come as Mack’s camp and Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie have been quiet about negotiations. Mack is entering the final season of his rookie contract that is set to pay him $13.8 million and Oakland would have the option of using the franchise tag next offseason if no long-term deal is reached.

Mack is one of several prominent holdouts this summer, joining players like Rams defensive tackle Aaron Donald, Seattle safety Earl Thomas. Pittsburgh running back Le’Veon Bell is also staying away from training camp but is not a holdout since he has not signed his franchise tender.

”He’s working,” fellow edge rusher Bruce Irvin said. ”I talk to him every day. He misses it. You just know how it is. He’s working his butt off and when he gets in here he’ll be ready.”

Mack has been one of the top defensive players in football since being drafted in the first round in 2014. He was a first-team All-Pro at both defensive end and linebacker in 2015 and won AP Defensive Player of the Year in 2016. He has 40 1/2 sacks in four seasons and leads the NFL in QB pressures with 185 1/2 since entering the league, according to SportRadar.

Free-agent acquisition Tank Carradine has taken over Mack’s role at defensive end on the base defense but is not an accomplished pass rusher. The Raiders hoped to upgrade that rush by drafting defensive end Arden Key and tackles Maurice Hurst and P.J. Hall.

Key and Hurst have shown good bursts early in training camp as the Raiders prepare without Mack.

”We can’t worry about who isn’t here because when Khalil gets tired, when he goes out of the game, the guys who are here have to go into the game and play while he is tired,” Irvin said. ”He rarely gets tired http://www.greenbaypackersteamonline.com/kevin-king-jersey , but when he does those guys have to be ready. We’re focused on getting these young guys ready and that stuff will take care of itself.”

Irvin is also taking on a bigger role in the pass rush after spending his first two seasons in Oakland as an outside linebacker who also rushed the passer.

Irvin dropped into coverage on almost one-third of pass plays last season, according to SportRadar. But Guenther plans to use him almost exclusively as a defensive end in his defense.

”I just think his best gift is going forward,” Guenther said. ”That’s what he should be doing each and every down. Instead of playing linebacker and dropping into coverage, we have to utilize his and everybody else’s talents the best we can.”

NOTES: CB Gareon Conley has missed the past two days with a hip strain sustained on the first day of practice. … RB Jalen Richard left practice with an undisclosed injury.

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The angst that permeated the Denver Broncos for two straight summers of quarterback competitions is noticeably absent from team headquarters this year.

Veteran Case Keenum is the unquestioned starter and that's allowed the Broncos to install their offense without having to take different skillsets into account.

That certainty has had a ripple effect on the entire roster.

"That makes a huge difference, especially for the players, for your receivers, for your offensive line, hearing the same cadence every day, working with your same quarterback every day," coach Vance Joseph said Thursday. "It's huge for Billy (Musgrave) as a coordinator to build his system around one quarterback.

"Having Case as the starter has definitely helped matters."

A more relaxed attitude that was evident all spring culminated with Von Miller wearing fake dreads under his helmet and again at the podium as the Broncos wrapped up their offseason program.

Fifty feet away, quarterback Paxton Lynch , the 2016 first-round draft pick who has started just four games in two years Da'Ron Payne Jersey , displayed a fresh maturity in his first interview since being relegated to understudy duties in March.

"I was really excited actually when we got Case, for the fact that he's a veteran guy who's been through it a little bit. He's had his ups and downs. But the way he carries himself and the way he handles himself, he's a pro and that only benefits me and other guys in that locker room," Lynch said.

While many fans may have given up on Lynch, general manager John Elway and Joseph are still his biggest boosters , suggesting he still has a bright future in the NFL.

"It means a lot, especially the head coach and the big guy upstairs, too, having my back," Lynch said. "... Whenever I get the opportunity to go out there and take over, I'm going to be ready for that."

Lynch's confidence level remains high even after losing out to Trevor Siemian twice and now having to fend off Chad Kelly to win the No. 2 quarterback job in training camp. (Siemian is now the Vikings' backup).

"There's always room for improvement," Lynch said after a spotty 7-on-7 drill Thursday. "I obviously believe that I can go out and play right now http://www.chicagobearsteamonline.com/johnthan-banks-jersey , but that's not my job right now. Case is the guy and I'm doing everything I can to make myself better and make the team better.

"Obviously, I'm confident in what I can do and confident in my abilities. So, I'm hanging my hat on that."

At the team's final offseason practice, Miller donned the same disguise he wore recently while working as an undercover waiter at a upscale Denver steakhouse .

"It's just the last day of camp, it's just like the last day of school, so I try to mix it up, I lost a bet," Miller said.

He wouldn't divulge the nature of the wager.

"I can't really talk about it, but I lost it," Miller said. "And then I started thinking about it, man, it would be cool with dreads. Some of the best pass rushers in the league have dreads http://www.dallascowboysteamonline.com/michael-gallup-jersey , Melvin Ingram, Jadeveon Clowney, so maybe that will rub off on me today."

Miller had fun wearing the wig during an undercover appearance at Guard and Grace in Denver to promote the club's "Taste of the Broncos" charity event later this summer

"I think after about like 20 minutes they knew it was me," Miller said. "But at first, I was making guys mad, eating off peoples' plates and taking shots with people. It was fun."

Miller said he used to wear the wig out to dinner and to the movies to blend in.

"But now I'm busted," he said. "Now I've got to switch it up."

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