McFadden taken down 1 more time
Former Arkansas Razorbacks running back Darren McFadden (Pulaski Oak Grove) is hurt again, leaving the Oakland Coliseum turf after suffering a hamstring injury in the second quarter of the Raiders’ 24-14 loss Sunday to the Washington Redskins.
McFadden, the two-time Heisman Trophy runnerup who played through an assortment of injuries at Arkansas while never missing a game, has been unable to do that in any of his first five NFL seasons, and it looks as if season No.
6 is headed down the same path.
McFadden entered the 2013 season having missed 23 of the Raiders’ 80 games, with three missed games being his lowest total, in 2008 and 2010.
The Raiders were leading 14-3 in the second quarter when Oakand Tribune columnist Monte Poole saw McFadden limp off the field Sunday afternoon, something he has seen far too many times.
“He hates it, hates being unable to play,” Poole writes.
“And he detests the label that he’s physically fragile.
“But the label sticks for a reason. The numbers don’t lie. And there is no reason to expect them to change, even if McFadden is only 26.
“That’s why the Raiders have to consider throwing up their hands. DMC is in the final year of his $60 million rookie contract. He’ll get a new deal somewhere, but General Manager Reggie McKenzie is being very judicious in sketching out the future.
“The smart money says the Raiders won’t offer McFadden premium money and most likely will allow him to test the market. And if he recovers and returns before the Oct. 29 trade deadline, it’s not inconceivable that the Raiders shop him.
“McKenzie has told me many times before that he believes running backs can be found in any draft, that only Hall of Fame caliber runners are worthy of long-term commitment.
Left unsaid - but implicit - was that most backs are replaceable and even the exceptional ones must also be durable.
“McFadden clearly flunks the durability test.
“He was, with good reason, Oakland’s preseason MVP. He’s the only man on the offensive unit to ever be ranked among the NFL Network’s coveted Top 100, listed at No. 60 last season.
“But McFadden is one of the league’s notable hypothetical figures: If he can stay healthy for a full season, Oakland has a chance to sustain its offense.
“He can’t.
“So here the Raiders are, once again, facing the annual expected heartbreak. If the days are getting shorter and the leaves are turning brown and the air is starting to cool, McFadden will set up camp in the trainer’s room.
“It’s tradition, with no reason to expect change.”Locker carted off
Tennessee Titans quarterback Jake Locker spent the night in the hospital because of his injured hip.
Locker was taken to the hospital late during the Titans’ 38-13 victory over the Jets, and the person spoke on condition of anonymity because the Titans had not commented on Locker’s status.
The Tennessean first reported Locker was being admitted to St. Thomas Midtown Hospital in Nashville, Tenn.
Locker was hurt in the third quarter. He was carted to the locker room before being taken to a hospital by ambulance.
Titans Coach Mike Munchak said they did not know the extent of the injury after the game and would have to wait and see.
Other injury updates from Sunday’s games include:
Seattle Coach Pete Carroll said defensive end Michael Bennett was OK after being taken off the field on a stretcher after injuring his lower back on a hit on Houston quarterback Matt Schaub. Bennett was taken to the hospital after the hit, but Carroll said he was back with the team after the game. He strained a muscle in his lower back.
Texans linebacker Brian Cushing left with a concussion in the third quarter. Cushing missed much of last season because of a knee injury.
Oakland lost fullback Marcel Reece to a knee injury.
Washington lost running back Alfred Morris in the second half to bruised ribs and nose tackle Chris Neild in the first half with a right calf injury.
Sports, Pages 16 on 09/30/2013