Las Vegas Raiders suffer multiple big-name injuries ahead of week
The Las Vegas Raiders have injuries at key positions heading into their next game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. The Raiders beat the Baltimore Ravens in one of the most exciting games last week, but now it looks like that win came with some serious losses.
At the team’s press conference on Tuesday, head coach Jon Gruden spoke about the team’s concerns on injuries that were suffered in their Monday night game. The Raiders saw guard Denzelle Good, quarterback Marcus Mariota, edge rusher Yannick Ngakoue, and defensive tackle Gerald McCoy all leave the game and not return. The medical cart was needed to assist McCoy in leaving the field. Coach Gruden addressed the significance of the loss of his two defensive players.
Raiders lose key D-linemen
“Hopefully Yannick is not as seriously injured as he possibly can be… we don’t know the outcome yet. Losing McCoy is a big loss to our leadership network and our D-line,” Gruden said, as he spoke to the media.
Depending on the severity of the injury, this could be McCoy’s second straight season that has ended early because of injury. Before the season could even start last year, as a member of the Dallas Cowboys, he suffered a ruptured right quadriceps in training camp. The six-time Pro Bowler only played nine defensive snaps against the Ravens before he went down late in the fourth quarter.
Ngakoue was one of the Raiders’ big acquisitions in this year’s off-season. He signed with Las Vegas after spending half the year with the Minnesota Vikings and the other half with the Baltimore Ravens. He played in 15 games between the two teams. Ngakoue had eight sacks and four forced fumbles. the Raiders do expect to get Ngakoue back this season.
Gruden on offensive injuries
Gruden went on to speak on losing backup quarterback Marcus Mariota in the game as well.
“Yeah, we lost a big part of our offense. Hopefully, it’s not going to linger on. He missed the whole preseason with a quad strain,” Gruden said. “He strained it again last night. The severity of that injury kept him out of the game.”
The second overall pick from the 2015 NFL Draft had a huge run on a third-and-one for 31 yards in the first quarter. After that play, Mariota never checked back into the game.
Unfortunately for the Raiders the diagnosis of the injury to their starting guard it’s already known. Denzelle Good will be out the remainder of the season with a torn ACL in his left knee.
The Raiders have put McCoy and Good on the team’s injured reserve list as of Wednesday. To supplement the loss of these two players the Raiders have signed guard Jordan Simmons and defensive tackle Damion Square.