Sep 14, 2014; Oakland, CA, USA; Oakland Raiders wide receiver Rod Streater (80) watches action from the sideline against the Houston Texans in the third quarter at O.co Coliseum. The Texans defeated the Raiders 30-14. Mandatory Credit: Cary Edmondson-USA TODAY Sports
If things weren’t bad enough for the Raiders following their close 16-9 loss to the New England Patriots to send them to 0-3 through the start of the season, two key players may also now be out for the entire season after suffering potential foot fractures in the loss. Those two key players being wide receiver Rod Streater and safety Tyvon Branch who both happen to be some of the more talented players at head coach Dennis Allen’s disposal now in doubt for the rest of the season.
According to multiple media reports Dennis Allen confirmed that both Streater and Branch may have serious foot injuries after both players left the game during the defeat to New England. Streater clearly was grabbing at his foot in immense pain while Branch was carted off of the field, signs that both could very well have likely season ending injuries based on the initial reports coming out surrounding the duo.
Allen said T. Branch and R. Streater both appear to have fractured foot injuries. Would very likely end both of their seasons. #Raiders
— Bill Williamson (@BWilliamsonNFL) September 21, 2014
WR Rod Streater and SS both suffered a fractured foot.
— Scott Bair (@ScottBairNFL) September 21, 2014
DA said Rod Streater & Tyvon Branch have suffered foot fractures. #Raiders
— Fallon Marie Christopher (@FallonSmithTV) September 21, 2014
Streater, praised by many as an up and coming breakout player on the Raiders will be missed even if new veteran pickup Vincent Brown will likely now slide into the roster in his place as there was expectation that the former undrafted free agent could be the team’s top target this year. Meanwhile Branch has been counted on to be the team’s every down strong safety for two seasons in a row and has now went down to serious injury in both of those seasons which will put pressure on Usama Young to once again step up in the absence of Branch. Last year the Raiders defense went downhill with Branch out of the picture so it will be important for the team to ensure that they can replace their starter much better than they did during their injury depleted second half of 2013.
Streater along with Branch join DJ Hayden, Sio Moore, Maurice Jones-Drew and Nick Roach on the list of key Raiders players who have been struck by injury so far in 2014. With injuries piling up it is easy to see why this team has sputtered out of the gate, now with two more top end players on the roster out for significant time the pressure on Dennis Allen and the coaching staff is going to increase even more as things get worse. Already lacking in talent during another rebuilding season, losing so much proven talent has made things even worse which may continue with Streater and Branch now out.