Rookie strong safety Johnathan Abram finished his Oakland Raiders debut with five tackles and a pass defended. Those will be his only stats from his first season in the NFL, as he tore his rotator cuff and labrum in the game against the Denver Broncos.
According to NFL Network's MJ Acosta, Abram will have surgery on Thursday, therefore ending his season after one week. Head coach Jon Gruden said on the matter:
“He would have played this week if we let him… we’re gonna miss him, no doubt.”
It is speculated that Abram sustained the injury in the first quarter of the game but wound up playing through it. As Gruden says, he would've played Week 2 if they let him, suggesting that Abram didn't tell the team before news broke of his injury.
After the game, Abram said to the media, via Adam Hill of the Las Vegas Review-Journal:
“I just can’t wait to go out there next week and play with these guys all over again. It’s going to be a fun season.”
Known for his hard hits, Abram didn't slow down despite an injury that is debilitating for many. He would've like tried to play this Sunday if the Raiders didn't inspect the first-round pick's injury.
Though Oakland will miss Abram's hard hits, the team is in good standing at the safety position. Lamarcus Joyner, Karl Joseph, and Erik Harris will hold down the position group as the Raiders wait until next season to get their enforcer back.
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