Post by TheShadow on Dec 12, 2003 22:37:45 GMT -5
www.pressdemocrat.com
Offensive guard to undergo arthroscopic surgery on left knee
December 12, 2003
By PHIL BARBER
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
ALAMEDA -- If guard Mo Collins was your pick in the "Next Raider to Miss the
Rest of the Season Because of an Injury" pool, your odds are looking pretty
good.
Collins won't necessarily be joining Oakland's crowded injured reserve --
currently packed with 11 players, including safety Keyon Nash, who went down
in the exhibition season. But coach Bill Callahan said Thursday that Collins
will definitely undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.
"It's just something I've been fighting since before the Denver game,"
Collins said. "I kept going. It would ease up by midweek. On game day it
would have improved enough to play. Then it would hurt again after Sunday."
Collins has missed only two games since hurting the knee during practice in
mid-September.
"He's battled through a lot of things, not only knee injuries," Callahan
said. "He's had some other issues as well. But I commend all those guys that
have gone through a lot of pain, gone through a lot of treatment, gone
through a lot of things to get themselves prepared to play on Sundays."
Collins said he anticipates three to four weeks of rehabilitation after the
surgery, which most likely will be performed by Dr. Warren King in the Bay
Area. The big guard figured he could have played in the next three games,
but not at full strength.
"I can always go out at 70 percent, but I want to be able to do everything I
can do," Collins said. "The big thing is, if I go out there, what's going to
happen again? Until the coaching staff feels they can get 60 minutes out of
me, it's better to keep me off the field."
With Collins on the shelf and center Barret Robbins officially out of
Sunday's game with a knee injury of his own, backup linemen Corey Hulsey and
Chad Slaughter are likely to be active against Baltimore. It's hasty
preparation for Hulsey, who was re-signed Nov.19, but having been with the
Raiders in training camp should help his transition.
"Guys rep it so much in the preseason," Hulsey drawled. "Some stuff is hard
to remember -- some of the pass plays. The run plays are pretty easy."
NO LOVE LOST
Earlier in the season, after seeing his playing time diminished, defensive
end DeLawrence Grant told reporters that his stock had plummeted during the
game at Denver on Sept.22, when he tried to play with strep throat and was
less than effective.
More recently, Grant has been overtaken on the depth chart by Lorenzo
Bromell, who started only 11 days after Oakland signed him Nov.19.
This week, Grant acknowledged that he hasn't spoken to defensive line coach
Mike Waufle for weeks, and doesn't have much interaction with defensive
coordinator Chuck Bresnahan, either.
"Me and Waufle don't talk," Grant said. "We don't like each other. I don't
think it's his call, anyway."
Grant was viewed as one of the Raiders' up-and-coming young players a year
ago, when he started 14 games in his second season. Now he's limited to
occasional reps to keep Bromell fresh.
"I just play my game," Grant said. "When I get a chance, I go out and do my
job."
EXTRA POINTS
In addition to Collins and Robbins, defensive tackle Sean Gilbert (groin)
also sat out practice Thursday. On the bright side, right tackle Lincoln
Kennedy, who suffered a concussion on Oakland's final offensive play last
Sunday, participated fully.
The Raiders wound up "several thousand tickets" short of a sellout Thursday,
a team spokesman said. This will be the sixth home game blacked out this
season.
With eight points against Denver and seven at Pittsburgh, and with the
hard-tackling Ravens coming into town, the Raiders are in danger of posting
single-digit scoring in three consecutive games. The last time that happened
was 1981, when Oakland suffered three shutouts in three weeks.
Offensive guard to undergo arthroscopic surgery on left knee
December 12, 2003
By PHIL BARBER
THE PRESS DEMOCRAT
ALAMEDA -- If guard Mo Collins was your pick in the "Next Raider to Miss the
Rest of the Season Because of an Injury" pool, your odds are looking pretty
good.
Collins won't necessarily be joining Oakland's crowded injured reserve --
currently packed with 11 players, including safety Keyon Nash, who went down
in the exhibition season. But coach Bill Callahan said Thursday that Collins
will definitely undergo arthroscopic surgery on his left knee.
"It's just something I've been fighting since before the Denver game,"
Collins said. "I kept going. It would ease up by midweek. On game day it
would have improved enough to play. Then it would hurt again after Sunday."
Collins has missed only two games since hurting the knee during practice in
mid-September.
"He's battled through a lot of things, not only knee injuries," Callahan
said. "He's had some other issues as well. But I commend all those guys that
have gone through a lot of pain, gone through a lot of treatment, gone
through a lot of things to get themselves prepared to play on Sundays."
Collins said he anticipates three to four weeks of rehabilitation after the
surgery, which most likely will be performed by Dr. Warren King in the Bay
Area. The big guard figured he could have played in the next three games,
but not at full strength.
"I can always go out at 70 percent, but I want to be able to do everything I
can do," Collins said. "The big thing is, if I go out there, what's going to
happen again? Until the coaching staff feels they can get 60 minutes out of
me, it's better to keep me off the field."
With Collins on the shelf and center Barret Robbins officially out of
Sunday's game with a knee injury of his own, backup linemen Corey Hulsey and
Chad Slaughter are likely to be active against Baltimore. It's hasty
preparation for Hulsey, who was re-signed Nov.19, but having been with the
Raiders in training camp should help his transition.
"Guys rep it so much in the preseason," Hulsey drawled. "Some stuff is hard
to remember -- some of the pass plays. The run plays are pretty easy."
NO LOVE LOST
Earlier in the season, after seeing his playing time diminished, defensive
end DeLawrence Grant told reporters that his stock had plummeted during the
game at Denver on Sept.22, when he tried to play with strep throat and was
less than effective.
More recently, Grant has been overtaken on the depth chart by Lorenzo
Bromell, who started only 11 days after Oakland signed him Nov.19.
This week, Grant acknowledged that he hasn't spoken to defensive line coach
Mike Waufle for weeks, and doesn't have much interaction with defensive
coordinator Chuck Bresnahan, either.
"Me and Waufle don't talk," Grant said. "We don't like each other. I don't
think it's his call, anyway."
Grant was viewed as one of the Raiders' up-and-coming young players a year
ago, when he started 14 games in his second season. Now he's limited to
occasional reps to keep Bromell fresh.
"I just play my game," Grant said. "When I get a chance, I go out and do my
job."
EXTRA POINTS
In addition to Collins and Robbins, defensive tackle Sean Gilbert (groin)
also sat out practice Thursday. On the bright side, right tackle Lincoln
Kennedy, who suffered a concussion on Oakland's final offensive play last
Sunday, participated fully.
The Raiders wound up "several thousand tickets" short of a sellout Thursday,
a team spokesman said. This will be the sixth home game blacked out this
season.
With eight points against Denver and seven at Pittsburgh, and with the
hard-tackling Ravens coming into town, the Raiders are in danger of posting
single-digit scoring in three consecutive games. The last time that happened
was 1981, when Oakland suffered three shutouts in three weeks.