The news remains positive for Oakland Raiders fans. It seems, per a report from Chris Mortensen of ESPN, that the results of quarterback Derek Carr's MRI have the team "encouraged" and, more importantly, holding off on re-signing backup Christian Ponder for now.

A report early on Monday emerged that while Carr's x-ray results had come back negative, the team was still awaiting the results of his MRI scan and had contacted Ponder, likely as something of a preemptive move should Carr's MRI come back positive for some type or ligament injury.

The Raiders second-round pick in the 2014 NFL Draft, Carr provided ample hope for optimism in Oakland during a highly encouraging rookie season in which he played much more like a well-traveled vet than a wet-behind-the-ears rookie. The presumption, despite a mediocre performance by Carr and really, the entire Raider team, against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sunday, remains that Carr will develop into the franchise quarterback Raider Nation hasn't seen in decades.

With young wideout Amari Cooper also looking very much like the "real deal" and running back Latavius Murray appearing promising as well, the future looks bright in Oakland.