The Las Vegas Raiders didn’t just lose a key rivalry game – and a serious ground in the AFC playoff race – on Thursday night. They also lost their starting defender, Marcus Mariota replacing an injured Derek Carr after the second possession of the team. And it doesn’t look like they’ll get it back soon. Asked to update Carr’s health after Thursday’s loss to the Chargers, coach Jon Gruden said the QB’s groin injury was “quite significant”, suggesting Mariota could be in line to start in Week 16.
“I don’t think it’s a real tear,” Gruden told reporters, “but obviously if he can’t finish the game, it has to be pretty significant … So it was hard.”
Carr, who has not missed a game in three seasons, was initially considered hesitant to return after a first-quarter red zone defeat left him defeated. In the second half, he was completely excluded, Mariota will cover over 300 total yards and two touchdowns in the 30-27 defeat of the Raiders.
It is unclear whether Carr will practice this week, but Gruden’s early remarks indicate that it is very possible that Mariota will be forced to take over the Raiders’ signal for at least week 16 against the Miami Dolphins (8-5). The former Tennessee Titans veteran has 61 career goals and was signed in March with a two-year, $ 17.6 million deal as one of the NFL’s highest paid backups.