After throwing his first NFL pass in last weekend's win, Oakland Raiders quarterback Terrelle Pryor could see increased playing time Sunday against the Carolina Panthers.
"You'll see him a little bit on third downs, you'll see him maybe in the red zone, try to create a different look for the defense to contend with," Raiders offensive coordinator Greg Knapp said Thursday, via The Associated Press. "It won't be so much the structure of last week, where he had a series, which we thought was fair to him."
The former Ohio State star was 0-1 on his one series last week, after being ill before the game.
The Raiders selected Pryor in the third round of the 2011 NFL Supplemental Draft, and he has spent much of this week imitating Panthers quarterback Cam Newton in practice.
"Right now I don't want to compare myself to (Colin) Kaepernick or Cam or any of those guys because them guys and Griffin have proved it," Pryor said this week, via The AP. "I haven't proved anything. I can't really say I'd be like them."
Pryor's footwork, mechanics and pocket presence were question marks, as were off-the-field concerns when he left college early in the midst of Ohio State's scandal.
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His athleticism, however, clearly is at the NFL level. In a preseason game against the Detroit Lions, Pryor flashed some of his potential: big passing plays -- 137 yards and two touchdowns on just three completions -- and running rampant over backup players. Of course, it was only the preseason, but the raw ability is there.
Raiders coach Dennis Allen is bringing along Pryor slowly, which will irritate some fans, who, with the season lost, would like to see what the quarterback could do full time.
The Raiders know what they have in Carson Palmer. If Pryor succeeds in his limited role Sunday, he could warrant more time in the season finale as Allen enters his first full offseason an NFL head coach.
Follow Kevin Patra on Twitter @kpatra.
