First-year Arizona Cardinals coach Steve Wilks has wanted players to separate themselves in the crowded competition at wide receiver.

Christian Kirk and Chad Williams seem to have done just that.

Both youngsters had impressive nights in the Cardinals' 20-15 preseason victory at New Orleans on Friday night.

Kirk Womens Anze Kopitar Jersey , a second-round pick from Texas A&M, caught four passes for 49 yards, including a 13-yard dart in traffic from fellow rookie Josh Rosen for a touchdown. Williams, a third-round pick from Grambling State in 2017, caught three for 44 yards.

"Christian Kirk, Chad Williams, the way they performed. Tough catches, yardage after with Chad," Wilks said after the team returned to practice Sunday. "I thought those guys stepped up. I thought they created a little bit of separation. It's ongoing in that room so I'm looking for guys to continue to get better."

Kirk and Williams took advantage of the absence of wide receiver Brice Butler, out with a foot injury. Butler had been listed as the No. 2 receiver opposite Larry Fitzgerald on the depth chart but Wilks had declared the positon "pretty wide open" during training camp.

"With Brice being out, there's more opportunities to go out and show what we can do John Carlson Jersey ," Kirk said. "I'm really excited with how we played and looking forward to another good week of practice and getting out there in Dallas and do it again."

Kirk, who grew up in suburban Phoenix as a Cardinals fan, made his presence felt the first time he touched the ball, returning a punt 38 yards in Arizona's first preseason game, a 24-17 win over the Los Angeles Chargers. He would have had a touchdown, most likely, had he not slipped making a move on the final would-be tackler, the punter.

Now he's trying to show that he's not just a specialist but a reliable big-play threat as a receiver.

"You've just got to learn week by week, whether it's the speed of the game, the playbook, I mean it all just comes more natural the more reps that you get Ryan Murray Jersey ," Kirk said. "You get used to the looks that you're seeing. It's getting a lot easier. I feel like I've made bounds and strides from when I first stepped in here."

Wide receiver is a big question mark for the Cardinals, with no truly proven players 鈥?except perhaps Butler 鈥?beyond Fitzgerald, who enters his 15th NFL season with career statistics among the greatest in the game's history.

So the showing of the youngsters was welcome news.

That might be particularly true of Williams, who struggled through a difficult rookie season, appearing in only six games with three catches for 31 yards.

Has the light come on?

"He's just such a competitor," Wilks said. "He understands exactly what he needs to do. He wasn't satisfied with some of the things that happened last year, the inconsistency, so I think he's ready to step up."

Williams said he's much more at ease.

"I feel like it's sunk in and I know the way of going about things," he said, "and it just comes natural now."

The Cardinals wrapped up their relatively brief training camp at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale on Wednesday. They will work out Monday, have Tuesday off Jimmy Vesey Jersey , then practice Wednesday through Friday in preparation for their Sunday game at Dallas.

"This was always in the plans because really I wanted those guys to get acclimated to how we're going to do it during the year, to get away from the University of Phoenix Stadium and get back here and get down to the routine," Wilks aid. "Routine is so important to me."

Notes: Wilks said there will be no rush to get DT Robert Nkemdiche back after the former first-round draft pick left Friday night's game with a foot injury. "I really don't have a timetable on it right now," Wilks said. "Just taking to the trainers, we're just going to take it day to day and see how it goes."

Derek Carr showed enough in one drive of what used to be the dress rehearsal game in the preseason for coach Jon Gruden to shut him down until Oakland's season opener.

Green Bay coach Mike McCarthy didn't need to see anything at all from Aaron Rodgers.

Carr led a scoring drive on his only possession of a shorter-than-expected preseason appearance, and the Raiders beat the Green Bay Packers 13-6 on Friday night.

"'I had seen enough," Gruden said. "There was not much more to see. The battle for us is who's behind Derek. ... I was very pleased with Derek and how he started the game."

Gruden had said earlier in the week that Carr and the offensive starters would likely play into the second quarter. But he pulled him after an opening drive that ended when Reggie Gilbert bull-rushed right tackle Donald Penn into Carr, leading to a sack and fumble that Carr recovered.

The Packers rested Rodgers and the rest of the offensive starters. They were held to two field goals and 228 yards of offense behind backups Brett Hundley and DeShone Kizer.

"We wanted to get some things done offensively. Didn't accomplish that," McCarthy said. "The obvious is the penalties kind of were the theme for the evening. It was a sloppy football game."

The Raiders won when Chris Warren III scored on a 1-yard run with 5:07 to play.

Carr went deep on the opening play, completing a 49-yard pass to Amari Cooper following a play-action fake. The Raiders moved to the 4 before the sack ended the drive and led to a field goal.

Carr then went to the bench after playing just two series the entire preseason. He's expected to sit out next week at Seattle and not play again until the season opener against the Rams on Sept. 10.

"If we practice at the speed that we do, I feel you can go out in the preseason and play a couple of plays here and there and be ready for the regular season http://www.officialmapleleafsproshop.com/authentic-adidas-james-van-riemsdyk-jersey ," Carr said.

Backup Connor Cook struggled, going 6 for 15 for 72 yards and throwing a pass that was intercepted by Green Bay rookie Jaire Alexander . Cook threw another interception that rookie Josh Jackson returned for a TD, but that got overturned by a defensive hold on the other side of the field.

E.J. Manuel also turned the ball over in the second half and Gruden said he wasn't sure his backup quarterback was currently on the roster.

Hundley wasn't much better, going 8 for 14 for 78 yards and leading one field goal drive in the first half. Kizer was 11 for 23 for 120 yards and also led one field goal drive as the Raiders took advantage of Green Bay's backup offensive line.

"They were getting around our edges a little bit," Kizer said. "It required me to step up here and there. I was trying to avoid some sacks, trying to keep the ball in play and have some positive plays. That's part of the game, being able to fight adversity."

TRADING TEAMS

In warmups, Carr and Rodgers took the opportunity to throw to old teammates who are now on the opposite team. Carr threw to his former Fresno State teammate Davante Adams and Rodgers warmed up with former Packers receiver Jordy Nelson.

"Derek threw Davante one and Aaron threw me one," Nelson said. "It's pretty rare to have that setup. It was fun to see those guys."

NATIONAL ANTHEM

Raiders running back Marshawn Lynch once again sat during the national anthem. Lynch also sat for the anthem all of last season but never gave a reason for his decision. No other players on either team demonstrated during the anthem.

HELMET RULE

There was one penalty under the new rule prohibiting players from leading with their helmets. Oakland S Marcus Gilchrist was called for the infraction on a tackle against Lance Kendricks in the second quarter.

"I'm not sure I understand that call tonight," Gruden said. "I do understand the rule."

DEBUT

Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie made his debut for the Raiders before even taking part in a practice. Rodgers-Cromartie was signed Thursday and came into the game in the third quarter at cornerback.

INJURIES

Packers: LB Oren Burks got hurt during warmups and didn't play. ... RB Ty Montgomery left in the first quarter with a foot injury.

Raiders: DE Bruce Irvin was excused from the game for a personal matter.

NEXT UP

Packers: Visit Kansas City on Aug. 30.

Raiders: Visit Seattle on Aug. 30.

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