Las Vegas Raiders will need Clelin Ferrell after injury to Yannick Ngakoue
By Brad Weiss
The former Raiders No. 4 overall pick was a healthy scratch on Monday night, but he will be needed after the injury to Yannick Ngakoue.
One of the bigger shocks leading into the Las Vegas Raiders game against the Baltimore Ravens on Monday night was the fact that Clelin Ferrell was a healthy scratch. Yesterday, we learned that Ferrell was actually dealing with a back injury, so we can likely expect to see him against the Steelers this week.
It has been an interesting career for Ferrell in the Silver and Black so far, as he was drafted to be the pass rusher to come in and help ease the void left by Khalil Mack. Instead, he has been more of a run-stuffer, which is fine, but not the kind of return you expect from the fourth overall selection in a draft.
On Monday night, he stood and watched as his teammates harrassed Lamar Jackson all night long, but in Week 2, he will be needed to suit up and join the party. Big-time free agent signing Yannick Ngakoue is out with a hamstring injury, an injury that could be a long-term one, so Ferrell needs to step up big time against Big Ben and company Sunday afternoon.
Raiders got some pass rush against Baltimore Monday night
One of the more positive takeaways from the win against Baltimore Monday was just how good the pass rush was for the Raiders. They hardly blitzed Lamar Jackson, but we are able to get pressure on him all game long, as he was under duress on 54.4 percent of his dropbacks.
That is what this team has been missing for years, and it caused turnovers, and the ability to actually get off the field on third down.
Monday night, we saw the emergence of Carl Nassib, who had multiple big plays, and looked like the player the Raiders gave so much money to a few years back. For Ferrell, he just has to perform when his number is called, and based on what we heard from Gruden this week, he will likely be a go against Pittsburgh.
This will be his chance to prove he should still be a part of the long-term solution in Las Vegas.