Raiders C Grove to undergo a second MRI on shoulder
Written by: Associated Press ¦ 8/23/2006
Source:
NAPA, Calif. (AP) -Oakland Raiders center Jake Grove will an undergo a second MRI on his injured left shoulder, dealing the team a potentially bad break at the end of a smooth training camp.
Grove hurt himself in practice Tuesday and will miss Friday's exhibition game against the Detroit Lions. He will be replaced by Corey Hulsey, meaning all five starters on the line will be at different spots from where they played last season.
``It's a hell of a curveball. That's a bad thing,'' coach Art Shell said Wednesday before the Raiders left Napa to return to their headquarters in Alameda. ``But you know, these things happen. It's unfortunate that they do happen. He's a great guy, a great player and he'll be back. His teammates just have to rally around each other and trust each other.''
The extent of Grove's injury won't be known until at least Thursday. But for now the Raiders' center will be Hulsey, who played last season mostly as an extra tight end and on special teams.
Hulsey, entering his fourth season with the Raiders, started at guard in place of Barry Sims in last week's exhibition game against the San Francisco 49ers and played well. He has little experience at center outside of a few preseason games.
``I've played center enough in my life to where it's comfortable enough,'' Hulsey said. ``It's definitely going to be an adjustment. It's different playing guard. Now, you have to direct the line, you're making the calls and then you got to snap the ball, too. So, it's definitely different than guard.''
Shell decided to go with Hulsey in Grove's place instead of veteran Adam Treu, who started 10 games at center last season when Grove went down with a knee injury. Shell said he was not concerned about Hulsey's inexperience at center.
``It won't be a problem plus he's got other guys in there who can help him,'' Shell said. ``They're all interchangeable and they can do those types of things. So he's handling the calls that they've been making. And though he's a backup, he's an intelligent guy. He can do those types of things.''
Without Grove, the Raiders offensive line will have a completely new look from last season. Robert Gallery has shifted from right tackle to left tackle, Langston Walker moved from right guard to right tackle and rookie Paul McQuistan is playing right guard after playing at tackle during college.
Sims has moved from left tackle to left guard but is sidelined with a sore right elbow. Kevin Garmon is expected to start in Sims' place on Friday.
Other than the uncertainty with Grove, the Raiders have come out of camp relatively healthy. Backup defensive tackle Michael Quarshie is sidelined with an ACL injury to his left knee, and backup receiver Carlos Francis has been out since the beginning of camp with a partially torn left hamstring.
``We were healthy up until today when I got the news on Jake,'' Shell said. ``That really, that shook me. That really shook me. He'll be back and we'll move on until he gets back.''
Written by: Associated Press ¦ 8/23/2006
Source:
NAPA, Calif. (AP) -Oakland Raiders center Jake Grove will an undergo a second MRI on his injured left shoulder, dealing the team a potentially bad break at the end of a smooth training camp.
Grove hurt himself in practice Tuesday and will miss Friday's exhibition game against the Detroit Lions. He will be replaced by Corey Hulsey, meaning all five starters on the line will be at different spots from where they played last season.
``It's a hell of a curveball. That's a bad thing,'' coach Art Shell said Wednesday before the Raiders left Napa to return to their headquarters in Alameda. ``But you know, these things happen. It's unfortunate that they do happen. He's a great guy, a great player and he'll be back. His teammates just have to rally around each other and trust each other.''
The extent of Grove's injury won't be known until at least Thursday. But for now the Raiders' center will be Hulsey, who played last season mostly as an extra tight end and on special teams.
Hulsey, entering his fourth season with the Raiders, started at guard in place of Barry Sims in last week's exhibition game against the San Francisco 49ers and played well. He has little experience at center outside of a few preseason games.
``I've played center enough in my life to where it's comfortable enough,'' Hulsey said. ``It's definitely going to be an adjustment. It's different playing guard. Now, you have to direct the line, you're making the calls and then you got to snap the ball, too. So, it's definitely different than guard.''
Shell decided to go with Hulsey in Grove's place instead of veteran Adam Treu, who started 10 games at center last season when Grove went down with a knee injury. Shell said he was not concerned about Hulsey's inexperience at center.
``It won't be a problem plus he's got other guys in there who can help him,'' Shell said. ``They're all interchangeable and they can do those types of things. So he's handling the calls that they've been making. And though he's a backup, he's an intelligent guy. He can do those types of things.''
Without Grove, the Raiders offensive line will have a completely new look from last season. Robert Gallery has shifted from right tackle to left tackle, Langston Walker moved from right guard to right tackle and rookie Paul McQuistan is playing right guard after playing at tackle during college.
Sims has moved from left tackle to left guard but is sidelined with a sore right elbow. Kevin Garmon is expected to start in Sims' place on Friday.
Other than the uncertainty with Grove, the Raiders have come out of camp relatively healthy. Backup defensive tackle Michael Quarshie is sidelined with an ACL injury to his left knee, and backup receiver Carlos Francis has been out since the beginning of camp with a partially torn left hamstring.
``We were healthy up until today when I got the news on Jake,'' Shell said. ``That really, that shook me. That really shook me. He'll be back and we'll move on until he gets back.''
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