Oakland Raiders: Don’t question Derek Carr’s toughness
Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr only missed one game after breaking three bones in his back. He finally admitted to playing through some discomfort.
How many people can actually say they’ve missed one work week after breaking three bones in their back when the job description requires heavy contact? That’s what Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr did during the previous season. He came clean about playing through the healing process.
When comparing Carr’s 2016 campaign to the past term, analysts wondered what’s wrong with the 26-year old signal-caller? Why did his numbers dip?
Along with running a new system under offensive coordinator Todd Downing, who previously served as the team’s quarterbacks coach, the Raiders’ franchise passer returned to the field with lingering pain in his back. He spoke about the ailment with NBCS Bay Area reporter Scott Bair on his Raiders Insider Podcast:
"When you break three bones in your back, it doesn’t feel good. I’m thankful God healed me to the point I could walk around and be able to practice. Injuries will never be something I talk about, especially during the season, but since it’s after the season, the (back issue) was one of those things that was there.I had to deal with it,” Carr said. “I had to do certain things to manage it, but I just didn’t talk about it. I didn’t want it to be an excuse. It was a want more than anything else. I didn’t want it to be a reason. I couldn’t let that be a reason why I couldn’t do A, B or C."
In Week 4, Denver Broncos defensive lineman Adam Gotsis kneed Carr in the back late in the third quarter on a sack. Oakland’s starting passer missed the following contest with the Baltimore Ravens and suited up for Week 6 despite a two-to-four week timetable on the expected recovery.
The fourth-year product out of Fresno State refused to use the injury as an excuse during the season. However, it’s clear his ball placement and recognition on routes didn’t come off as sharp.
To fans worried that head coach Jon Gruden may bring in a coaching style that’s too harsh on Carr, he just admitted to participating in a collision sport with bones still healing from a transverse process fracture. It’s highly unlikely that another man screaming expletives at him in meetings or from the sideline will shatter his psyche.
The Raiders starting signal-caller welcomed the criticism on 95.7 The Game’s Greg Papa Show:
"If anyone knows anything about me, which not a lot of people do because they don’t take the time, they would know that some of my best years I’ve had, not only in the NFL but in college, are with coaches that were extremely tough on me and extremely demanding."
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Carr’s toughness should come up as the last trait to question when he pairs with Gruden for the upcoming season and beyond. The Raiders new head coach will needle the field general. Nonetheless, it’s probably the best thing to do in order to push the three-time Pro Bowler to new career heights.