Antonio Brown wears helmet, practices with Raiders

ALAMEDA, Calif.

Raiders star wide receiver Antonio Brown participated Tuesday in at least a portion of the team’s first practice after breaking camp Monday in Napa.

“He’s all-in and ready to go,” coach Jon Gruden said after practice. “That’s my understanding. Really happy to have him out here. He’s a great player.”

Gruden added that Brown wore a certified helmet during practice. It

was unclear what model he was using and whether it is seen as a potential long-term solution.

Brown was unavailable for comment.

Brown, who was challenged by general manager Mike Mayock to be all-in or all-out when he missed practice Sunday, filed a second grievance against the NFL on Monday for not allowing him to wear his preferred headgear. The NFL Network reported that the grievance hearing probably will be Friday.

On Tuesday, Brown participated in an early walk-through session without a helmet, but quickly left the practice field and went into the performance center just as the media were allowed to enter.

He briefly returned at the end of the 10-minute stretching period, the only portion of practice open to reporters. He continued light stretching in the corner of the end zone, still with no sign of a helmet, as the rest of his teammates huddled in the middle of the field.

When practice was wrapping up and the media were allowed back in, Brown was seen walking off the field with a helmet in his hand.

“He looks really good,” Gruden said. “He’s showing great retention in what we’re doing. He didn’t miss the offseason. He’s been here in meetings. It’s good to have him back. He’s in great shape, running hard and running good routes.”

Brown’s participation was a sign that closure could be near for a saga that has dragged on during his first training camp with the organization. A nine-year veteran who is one the league’s most consistent pass catchers, Brown was acquired from the Pittsburgh Steelers for two draft picks in March.

Brown, who practiced with the team just once in Napa because of frostbitten feet and the helmet dispute, was expected to practice Sunday after his participation in the Raiders’ two walk-through sessions Saturday. But that changed because Brown was still upset about the helmet situation, and he was absent from the session. Brown attended a team meeting Monday morning, according to a team source.

“It’s not been a distraction to me, at all,” Gruden said. “I hate to break it to anybody, but we’ve known what the status is regarding his feet. He just showed up with frostbite. I’ve never had a guy show up with frostbite, and fortunately we got that thing under control.”

Brown was on the field in full uniform, including a helmet, for the team’s preseason game Thursday at the Arizona Cardinals. After running routes in warmups, he said he was ready to rejoin the team and move forward.

At the time, Brown said he was optimistic because he had found a newer model of the disputed helmet and hoped it would be approved by the league.

It was not.

In filing the second grievance, Brown argued that other players received a one-year grace period after finding out their helmets no longer were approved.

“This grievance thing is no laughing matter,” Gruden said. “It’s something that’s really important to him. There’s nothing wrong with supporting your players and the things they believe in. We also understand the league’s position, but I’m confident he’s going to be a heck of a player for us and be ready to roll.”

Brown isn’t expected to play in Thursday’s preseason game against the Green Bay Packers in Winnipeg, Manitoba.

The Raiders open the season Sept. 9 on “Monday Night Football” against the Denver Broncos at RingCentral Coliseum.

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Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on Twitter.