On the second play of the Raiders vs. Jets Sunday, Damon Arnette flew in to make the tackle on running back Frank Gore, causing both players to leave the game and not return.
This kind of thing does happen in football and unlike the old days, when a player gets head trauma like that, they often don’t return. What is really concerning with Arnette, however, is this is the second week in a row he was knocked out of the game on the first series. Last week it was the very first play.
As of Monday, Raiders head coach Jon Gruden said, while it doesn’t sound like Arnette is expected to play this week against the Colts, Gruden feels good that Arnette will not be out long term, and could return this season.
“I’m not going to create a dire situation,” Gruden said when I asked him if he was concerned about Arnette’s long term prognosis. “I don’t know if it’s a true concussion. I think neck and shoulder injuries are part of this. . . It was a violent hit. A lot of guys get dazed, and I’m concerned about Damon, but I do think he’s going to be fine and I do think he’ll play again at some point. But we are not, at this point, overly concerned about his health. We’re just glad he’s OK and eager to get him back in the lineup.”
Coming in for Arnette on Sunday was Nevin Lawson with Keisean Nixon also seeing some time in the defensive lineup along with starters Trayvon Mullen and Lamarcus Joyner. Isaiah Johnson was inactive for the game.
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