ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Four months ago, T.J. Carrie didn’t know if he’d even be drafted. Now, he is three days from making a major contribution for his hometown team.

Because of an injury to Chimdi Chekwa, Carrie will be the No. 3 cornerback (essentially a starting role) and the primary punt returner for the Oakland Raiders on Sunday at the New York Jets.

“It shows you that if you stay humble, keep working what can happen in this league,” Carrie said. “It’s truly a blessing.”

The Raiders took Carrie, who starred at nearby De La Salle High School, a national powerhouse, in the seventh round out of Ohio. Carrie was an exciting cornerback/return man in college, but his draft stock was lowered by injuries.

However, Carrie quickly became one of the stories of camp for Oakland. He played against opposing No. 1 offenses often in the preseason and held his own. If he plays well, he probably has a chance to stay in the rotation. Carrie has also shined at punt returner, which he calls his “niche.”

“It’s huge to know I have this chance at both cornerback and at punt returner,” Carrie said. “I have to work hard to show I belong.”