Jack Del Rio has no regrets of keeping Derek Carr in game vs Colts

Criticism shot at the Raiders’ head coach has emerged following Derek Carr’s devastating injury.

Hindsight is always 20/20, and this situation regarding an unfortunate blow to the Oakland Raiders is no different. As most of you are aware of by now, Raiders quarterback Derek Carr suffered a fractured fibula back on Saturday. Oakland led Indianapolis 33-14 in the fourth quarter, and all was peaches and cream until Carr couldn’t get up.

So, naturally, the questions and speculation were bound to come from the media concerning the decision to keep Carr in the game. Injuries happen in the NFL. They are inevitable and can strike at the worst times. Jack Del Rio was quick to back up his position.

“We felt we had to keep the pedal down on that opponent and that quarterback in that game,”
Del Rio said according to Josh Alper from Pro Football Talk. “You’re talking about a team facing elimination”

It is extremely nit picky to point the finger on a freak injury like this. The timing for the playoff-bound Raiders is nothing short of brutal, but to call out Del Rio is stretching it. He described how a conservative approach would have been criticized as well.

“‘Coach, don’t you think you got a little conservative there? What the heck, you let them come back.’ And we’d be sitting here with a frown on our face because we wouldn’t have won our 12th game,” Del Rio said.

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Perhaps the finger could first be pointed at left tackle Donald Penn. He was the one who let Colts’ linebacker Trent Cole around him and into the pocket. A fine tackle for years, Penn had not given up a sack this season until this moment. Carr’s injury now will have major ramifications on the AFC playoff race. It is hard to imagine Oakland being a similar team without No. 4. The job belongs to backup Matt McGloin now.