Oakland Raiders LB Rolando McClain questionable for Week 9 tie against Tampa Bay Buccaneers – NFL News
Oakland Raiders have listed their linebacker Rolando McClain as questionable for Week 9 game against Tampa Bay Buccaneers to be played on Sunday, November 04, 2012.
Raiders head coach Dennis Allen said on Friday, November 02, that McClain’s toe injury aggravated during Wednesday’s practice session and his participation will be decided before the start of Sunday’s game. Allen said:
“Yeah, he’s got a toe, which really cropped up on Wednesday. But he’s been able to practice all week a little bit in a limited fashion, but he’ll probably be a game-time decision. It’s similar but it’s not…I don’t know if turf toe is the technical term or
not. But technically, it’s not turf toe.”
It will be a big blow for Raiders as they are currently without many of their starting players due to injuries.
If McClain fails to get fully fit for the upcoming game then Allen would likely activate linebacker Aaron Curry, who has been put on physically unable to perform (PUP) list due to a knee injury. Talking about activating Curry, Allen said:
“It’ll be a thought, but we don’t have to make that decision right now. We’ll know more about where Rolando is tomorrow and that’ll help us as far as making any type of decisions.”
Raiders are likely to activate Curry on Saturday as backup linebacker Keenan Clayton is also unavailable due to injury.
McClain has compiled 25 solo tackles and 11 assists this season while getting 1.0 sack and one forced fumble.
Raiders need a good defensive line against Buccaneers’ offence that is famous for long passes.
Only last month, Allen indicated that McClain would have a reduced role on the field because of his failure to put a noticeable impression as starter.
The linebacker had a very bad offseason in which he was sentenced by the court for threatening a person with a gunshot. He also missed most of the offseason training due to ankle injury.
McClain was drafted by Raiders as the eighth overall pick in the 2010 draft to fulfil their dire need of having a linebacker with fast speed running ability.
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