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23ABC Camp Week featuring the Raiders, Browns, 49ers and Chargers

Read about every team's coverage this week
Posted at 4:20 PM, Aug 02, 2017
and last updated 2017-08-04 21:49:47-04

RAIDERS

After making the playoffs for the first time in more than a decade, excitement is high inside Raider Nation. 

Most of that is centered around Derek Carr. The Bakersfield Christian grad is preparing for his fourth season at quarterback for the Raiders. Last year he was in talks to be among the candidates for Most Valuable Player before a season ending ankle injury on Christmas Eve. 

Now healthy, he's hoping to lead Oakland to their first Super Bowl since 1984.

Carr is set to address the media following today's practice around 1:30.

49ers

For a team that made the Super Bowl in 2012 the fall from greatness has been steep. The San Francisco 49ers have posted just one winning season in the last four years and then bottomed out in 2016’s two win campaign.

That prompted a cleaning of house led by a new first year general manager in John Lynch and new first year coach in Kyle Shanahan.

For a team still searching for its identity experience will be key. The Niners have a wealth of it in the center of their defense at the linebacker position. Ahmad Brooks and Elvis Dumervil both entering their 13th season in the league could be the veteran leadership to help grow Rueben Foster, a rookie out of Alabama picked 31st overall in this year's draft.

BROWNS

Once again Cody Kessler is in a battle for the job of starting quarterback. Last year he was in the same fight during his rookie campaign battling Robert Griffin III & Josh McCown. "You gotta make the most of your opportunity and that's something that's been important to me all the way through high school and college," Kessler said at Browns training camp. "It's all about when you're out there what you do."

The Centennial grad looked to have seized the job last year after filling in for the injured McCown & RG3. Kessler started 8 times and completed nearly 66 percent of his throws, enough to enter this year's camp starting with the ones. "This is a competition," said 2nd year coach Hue Jackson at the start of camp. "Somebody has to walk out there first. We've made the decision that it will be Cody."

While he's throwing with the ones now, he knows it's a long way to having the job in week 1. Kessler's current battle is with DeShone Kizer, a rookie from Notre Dame, who says he's learning from Kessler every day. 

Focusing on what he can do to improve, Kessler says he needs to take more chances in the secondary. "Obviously there were some chances that I should have taken last year but I think that just comes with being more comfortable with the system as well," he said. 

A sentiment he hopes can turn his second season in the NFL into a sophomore sensation.

CHARGERS

23ABC camp week kicked off with the newest team to come to the Los Angeles market. Coming off the worst record in the AFC West, the Chargers are hoping to avoid the injury bug and improve on a 5 win campaign. 

Watch below for our full report from Costa Mesa.

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