If I’d have told you Trent Brown would be lost to an injury on the first series and his backup would be lost in the game as well, you’d have probably thought Derek Carr would be in trouble. And no one would think that was a crazy thought. I mean, Sam Young is a veteran swing tackle, but he is still a career backup.
Now, what if I told you they would then lose Young as well? And knowing that David Sharpe was traded away and Brandon Parker was inactive, leaving no pure tackles left on the active roster, that would certainly spell disaster.
And yet, somehow it didn’t.
Trent Brown left with a calf strain early. Then Sam Young stepped in and held his own. Then Young was lost to a groin injury. And in came backup guard Denzelle Good at right tackle. And the Raiders offense didn’t seem to miss a beat.
By the end of the game, the Raiders had scored 34 points despite the rotation at tackle. And even more shocking — Derek Carr was not sacked. Not once.
“Injuries happen and things happen and things happen and we went down to Denzelle Good playing right tackle, which I’ll let the coaches tell you how many reps he’s had at right tackle,” said Derek Carr, who gushed about how much he loves his linemen. “I think he did a pretty good job against some pretty good players. So, anytime I don’t get touched and we run the rock well, everyone should be praising the offensive linemen and giving them free food.”
How many reps has Good had at right tackle in camp? Precisely none. He’s the team’s backup utility guard. He has been fully prepared to step in at guard if the need arises. He was not prepared for stepping in at tackle. So, for him to do it midway through this game is something. And Young played well before he left as well, proving he was the right choice to keep over the challengers at the position this camp.
