Darren McFadden's most recent injury has made it even more clear how important it is for the Raiders to ink a long-term deal with restricted free agent Michael Bush.
On Thursday, coach Hue Jackson revealed that McFadden was out for at least two weeks with an orbital fracture. Michael Bush signed his restricted free agent tender on Saturday, after a practice Friday in which Louis Rankin and Rock Cartwright took all the snaps.
In a press conference a few days ago, Jackson joked saying that McFadden looked handsome and he had no doubt the running back will return in two weeks. Jackson also reminded every one of last preseason when McFadden missed a considerable amount of time due to a hamstring injury and came back to have 1157 yards and a break-out season. Still, McFadden has yet to play an entire season without missing time.
It's the elephant in the room-McFadden is prone to injury.
There is a severe lack of depth in the Raiders running-back depth chart. After McFadden and Bush, there is rookie Taiwan Jones and veteran Rock Cartwright. If Bush isn't re-signed long-term, the Raiders will need to find another back, or hope that Jones is ready to take over for Bush next season. It's no small task and Taiwan Jones isn't exactly the "bruiser" that is needed as a change-of-pace to McFadden.
McFadden should return before the season starts, but the Raiders need to work something out with Bush, because there isn't a back on the roster that can replace him.
Follow me on Twitter: @NatalieSaar
On Thursday, coach Hue Jackson revealed that McFadden was out for at least two weeks with an orbital fracture. Michael Bush signed his restricted free agent tender on Saturday, after a practice Friday in which Louis Rankin and Rock Cartwright took all the snaps.
In a press conference a few days ago, Jackson joked saying that McFadden looked handsome and he had no doubt the running back will return in two weeks. Jackson also reminded every one of last preseason when McFadden missed a considerable amount of time due to a hamstring injury and came back to have 1157 yards and a break-out season. Still, McFadden has yet to play an entire season without missing time.
It's the elephant in the room-McFadden is prone to injury.
There is a severe lack of depth in the Raiders running-back depth chart. After McFadden and Bush, there is rookie Taiwan Jones and veteran Rock Cartwright. If Bush isn't re-signed long-term, the Raiders will need to find another back, or hope that Jones is ready to take over for Bush next season. It's no small task and Taiwan Jones isn't exactly the "bruiser" that is needed as a change-of-pace to McFadden.
McFadden should return before the season starts, but the Raiders need to work something out with Bush, because there isn't a back on the roster that can replace him.
Follow me on Twitter: @NatalieSaar
Absurd. A freak accident to the face does not further indicate Mcfadden's injury prone nature. He will be fine
ReplyDeleteThat's one way of looking at it. Another way is that few backs can stay healthy over the long haul. Point is the same.
ReplyDelete