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NAPA — Trace Armstrong has never been one to sit still. 

When he’s not pushing himself through a rigorous workout routine, the veteran Oakland defensive end is working the phone lines at a breakneck pace to keep tabs on the NFL’s 1,600 players. As president of the NFL Players’ Association, there’s little time for Armstrong to rest. 

That’s why Armstrong is desperate to get back out on the football field. Sidelined for nearly all of 2001 with a ruptured Achilles’ tendon that prematurely ended his first season with the Raiders, Armstrong — who led the AFC with 16.5 sacks for Miami in 2000 — lasted just three games last season and made just 1/2-sack before getting injured Sept. 30 against Seattle. 

Armstrong seems close to being fully recovered from the injury, but the Raiders nevertheless are taking a cautious approach with the 36-year-old defender. They’ve limited his work in contact drills during training camp, and they held him out of the preseason opener in Dallas because the game was on artificial turf. 

“I’ve had injuries before, and probably my biggest fault was not listening to the doctors and trainers,” Armstrong said Monday as the Raiders held their first full day of workouts since the Dallas trip. “I made up my mind when this happened that I was going to be a good listener. I’m really relying on (the Raiders’ training staff). I’m trying not to be bullheaded.” 

Oakland coach Bill Callahan has limited Armstrong to a handful of repetitions with the starting defense when the team scrimmages in full pads, hoping to avoid any possibility of aggravating the injury. Armstrong has been pushing his coach to increase his work in training camp, and Callahan might allow Armstrong to play this week in Tennessee. 

“It’s still possible,” Callahan said.  

In the meantime, Armstrong has stayed busy, studying film and attending team meetings. He’s also keeping an eye the potential labor strike in major league baseball, though it’s highly unlikely it would have any effect on the NFLPA. 

“We watch it but I’ve got 1,600 active guys and 10,000 retired guys (in the NFLPA),” Armstrong said. “That’s enough for me to worry about.”