Oakland Raiders to play without running back Darren McFadden and Mike Goodson in Week 10 – NFL News
Oakland Raiders have officially announced that their two preferred running backs Darren McFadden and Mike Goodson will be unavailable for Week 10 game against Baltimore Ravens on Sunday, November 11, 2012.
Raiders head coach Dennis Allen made the announcement on Friday, November 09, as both players remained absent from the practice session for the third consecutive time this week. According to the Associated Press, Allen said:
"(Neither) of them made enough progress this week that they were able to be up. We'll probably be going through the same thing next week and we'll see where we're at."
Both McFadden and Goodson sustained high ankle sprains during Week 9 game against Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
McFadden got the injury in the first quarter as he landed on the ground in an awkward manner after making a run.
He carried on playing in the first quarter and returned in the second quarter. However, the pain got the better of him and he left the field in final minutes of the first half. Goodson left with the same injury later in the second half.
In absence of these two running backs, Raiders will play with backup running back Taiwan Jones.
The dynamic running back has spent most of the playing time with special teams this season.
Jones has been practising alongside fullback Marcel Reece during the practice sessions this week. He was delighted to get the opportunity of starting the game for Raiders. Jones said:
"Of course I'm very excited. I've been waiting for my opportunity and it's here, so I'm going to try to make the most of it. I'm very aware that I'm not Darren McFadden. The coaches, they do a good job of putting me in positions and giving me plays for what
I can bring to the table. I'm not trying to be Darren McFadden or anyone else."
Jones himself has struggled with injuries. He remained unavailable in the last six games of the 2011 season after having problems with his hamstring.
Jones split the first team reps with Reece in practice on Friday and is likely to share the snaps with him on Sunday.
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