The Sports Xchange

NAPA, Calif. — Oakland Raiders general manager Reggie McKenzie said “there’s a chance” the club will pursue Tony McDaniel, the defensive tackle released by Seattle after the Seahawks signed quarterback Russell Wilson and linebacker Bobby Wagner to big-money contract extensions.

McDaniel is familiar with the Raiders’ scheme, which was imported from Seattle by coordinator Ken Norton Jr., who was the linebackers coach with the Seahawks.

When McDaniel came to Jacksonville in 2006 as an undrafted free agent, the Jaguars’ coach was Jack Del Rio, who is now the Raiders’ coach. He went to college at Tennessee, which is McKenzie’s alma mater.

“I’ve had some good battles and good times with Tony,” Norton said. “Those decisions are made in another group, but if there’s someone out there that can help us get better, let’s bring him in and give him a shot.”

McDaniel would provide a 6-foot-7, 305-pound rotational option to go along with projected starters Dan Williams and Justin Ellis.

–McKenzie, 11-37 as a general manager over three years with a talent-challenged roster and issues at quarterback, could barely contain his enthusiasm about the possibilities in 2015.

“It’s obvious,” he said. “I think we’re big and strong. I think we’re fast. I like the way the players are responding to the coaches. The energy is off the chain. It’s looking the way I like it to look.

“Players are flying around, going in the right directions. It’s been a competitive camp. I mean every position. These guys are feeling it. It’s going to bring out the best in each and every one of them.”

–Cornerback Keith McGill is waging a battle with TJ Carrie and DJ Hayden to become a full-time starter rather than come in as a third corner in a nickel defense.

On one play Monday, McGill rose high in the end zone to break up a pass from Derek Carr for Michael Crabtree, who had been a star through the first four days of training camp.

A fourth-round draft pick out of Utah, McGill battled injuries as a rookie but opened some eyes with some late-season playing time.

“He can get into the press position and, with his length, has some quickness for his size,” McKenzie said. “He has all the tools; we just want him to have an opportunity to get out there and play.”

–After spending the entire offseason as the backup quarterback, Christian Ponder has been getting some third-team reps while Matt McGloin, a former 2013 starter and backup last season, got some work with the second team.

Del Rio warned not to read too much into where Ponder and McGloin were positioned at such an early date.

–While running back Trent Richardson remains on the physically-unable-to-perform list for an injury sustained away from the team, undrafted free agent Michael Dyer has put together some solid practices.

Latavius Murray continues to hold on to the top spot as the lead runner. Richardson, a competitor to start, missed the first four practices. Roy Helu Jr., another free-agent signing, missed Monday’s session with an undisclosed injury.