Terrelle Pryor will start today
Oakland Raiders quarterback Terrelle Pryor (2) on the sidelines during the game against the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field at Mile High. The Broncos defeated the Raiders 37-21. Mandatory Credit: Ron Chenoy-USA TODAY Sports
Oakland Raiders starting quarterback Terrelle Pryor past all of the league’s mandatory concussion tests, but Raiders head coach Dennis Allen created an additional test for Pryor to run through as a precaution yesterday. Pryor is the Raiders quarterback of the future, and the Raiders are wise to treat him as such and use caution with the concussion that he suffered last week against the Denver Broncos.
Terrelle Pryor, as expected, passed yesterday’s additional concussion test, so the San Francisco Chronicle’s Vic Tafur reports that Pryor will start today against the Washington Redskins. The Raiders won’t have to look to Matt Flynn to take the start, and that’s good news for Raiders fans. Nothing against Flynn, but Pryor gives the Raiders a better chance to win, especially against the Redskins. The Redskins defense has looked like the worst unit in the league, as their secondary has been dysfunctional whilst also piling up the missed tackles (I’m starting to blame Raheem Morris for that). Pryor’s dynamic rushing ability is going to cause the Redskins defense major problems, and I don’t think they will be able to handle deep passes to Rod Streater and Denarius Moore either with those safeties. The deep ball Pryor and the Raiders WRs provide is the biggest reason why the Raiders could win this game.
Tafur reports that league sources (not just one) state that Pryor will start, and Allen didn’t specify whether or not Pryor would start if he passed yesterday’s concussion test; he only said that Pryor would play. Reading between the lines, it would make no sense for the Raiders to bench Pryor for Flynn if Pryor is healthy, and the fact that he passed yesterday’s test virtually guarantees that he will start today.
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