Derek Carr injury update: Raiders QB leaves in second quarter
The Oakland Raiders are having a rough start to their 2015 regular season on both the scoreboard and the injury sheet. Quarterback Derek Carr was forced to leave with an undisclosed injury in the second quarter of his game against the Cincinnati Bengals, a contest Oakland is losing 24-0 at halftime.
UPDATE:
#Raiders announce that Carr has hand injury and is questionable to return. No bueno. No bueno at all.
— Asher Mathews (@AsherMathews) September 13, 2015
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Carr was replaced by Mike McGloin, who certainly is not viewed as a franchise quarterback. The Raiders had a ton of momentum coming into the season opener with the team finally looking like it could climb its way to respectability. Instead, Carr is hurt and the Raiders are looking as pathetic as ever.
Last year, Carr threw for over 3,000 yards and 21 touchdowns as a rookie. The 2014 second-round pick out of Fresno State University appeared to be the answer for general manager Reggie McKenzie. Unfortunately, the future could be on hold if Carr is out for any extended period of time.
The front office made a real effort to put some weapons around Carr. McKenzie signed Michael Crabtree in free agency and drafted Amari Cooper with the fourth-overall selection in the 2015 NFL Draft. With that pair of receivers, it stands to reason Carr should improve upon his promising numbers.
Oakland is already facing an uphill climb in the AFC West, with the Kansas City Chiefs, Denver Broncos and San Diego Chargers all playoff-caliber squads. Even if everything goes right for the Raiders, it is tough to see them climbing out of the basement, and an injury to Carr would all but ensure it.