DENVER, CO - OCTOBER 1: Quarterback Derek Carr #4 of the Oakland Raiders celebrates after throwing a 64-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter of a game against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High on October 1, 2017 in Denver, Colorado. (Photo by Dustin Bradford/Getty Images)
Raiders fans are on the edge of their seats as Derek Carr exited the Raiders-Broncos game. Carr was favoring his back as he headed to the locker room.
The Raiders medical staff treated Carr in a pop-up tent on the field before Carr headed to the locker room. Carr was forced to miss the end of last season and the playoffs with a torn ACL. Carr made a full recovery this off-season, and hopefully today’s injury is not serious.
According to Bleacher Report, Raiders coach Jack Del Rio noted Carr had back spasms, and is expected to be okay.
On the same play, Carr suffered a knee to his back along with a hit to the head. Yahoo Sports reports his return is questionable.
Derek Carr suffered a back injury after taking this hit against the Broncos and is questionable to return t.co/WbKvir6mU7 #OAKvsDEN
Ironically, Tony Romo was calling the game when the injury happened. Romo suffered a career-ending back injury.
E.J. Manuel took over at quarterback for the Raiders. Carr spoke with NFL.com on what it felt like to suffer a season-ending injury in 2016.
“Instantly, when I went down and I was holding my leg, all I could think about was my wife and kids,” Carr told NFL.com. “Obviously, every football player that’s on a contract year doesn’t want to get hurt. The last thing you want to do is break an ankle. I sat there, and all I did was think about them, and I just began to tell myself it doesn’t matter what the outcome is — I’m just going to work my tail off to make sure they’re taken care of, whether it’s football or something else. Because you don’t know at that moment; if I’m done, who knows?”
As ESPN’s Adam Schefter pointed out, Carr and Marcus Mariota suffered season-ending injuries on the same day last season. Both players were injured again today.