The hits keep coming. Immediately following the O*kland Raiders 20-6 home loss to the Los Angeles Chargers Sunday, word came the team will be losing its top two wide receivers. Pro Bowler Jordy Nelson is reportedly set to retire while Martavis Bryant has a PCL injury that may keep him out the rest of the season.
The news, which comes amidst the worst Raiders season in years, is just another in a long line of losses the team has endured in 2018. Whether it was via trade (Khalil Mack/Amari Cooper), injury (Marshawn Lynch), or simply performance (Bruce Irvin) the roster is dynamically different. On a positive note, the Mack and Cooper trades have garnered the franchise five first round pick over the next few years while freeing up upwards of $100 million in cap space.
Sitting at 1-8, it seems to be a race to finish with the worst record in football with the New York Giants. With stud defensive player Nick Bosa from Ohio State headlining this year’s draft, the losses could come with a silver lining.
Jordy Nelson Reportedly Retiring
According to Scott Gulbransen, host of Silver & Black Today, Nelson is throwing in the towel on the season and hanging up his receivers gloves for good. The former Green Bay Packers star has struggled in his time with O*kland during this nightmare season.
Jordy Nelson done? Hmmm….
— Scott Gulbransen (@LVGully) November 12, 2018
The Raiders and Jon Gruden are so bad that Jordy Nelson said fuck it and is allegedly retiringhttps://t.co/ropvA7X6id pic.twitter.com/iQkM8MeBVs
— Barstool Sports (@barstoolsports) November 12, 2018
Reports initially have a “veteran player” yelling “I gotta get the f*ck outta here” after the 20-6 punchless loss to the Chargers. Locker room strife from the older players has been rumored all season as the Raiders look to rebuild, never a comfortable spot for veteran players hanging on to their final years of a career.
One Raiders veteran to another, on his way out of the locker room past three reporters, including myself: “I gotta get the f*** outta here.”
— Matt Schneidman (@mattschneidman) November 12, 2018
Nelson is a part of an offense that hasn’t scored a touchdown in their past nine quarters of play, outscored 75-9 over the stretch by the two bad teams (Colts, 49ers) and the surging Chargers. The 33-year-old has posted 25 catches, 353 yards and three touchdowns this season for the Raiders.
Optimism for Nelson was high heading into the season, with NFL Network’s Peter Shrager going so far as to call it the most important wide receiver move of the offseason. In hindsight, his quote reads like a story out of “The Onion” more than an actual NFL assessment.
“I wasn’t sure about that signing. 33-year-old Jordy Nelson, what did we get here? And then I talked to people in Oakland and they’re saying ‘this dude is unbelievable,” Schrager stated.
“Jordy Nelson is basically a quarterback in the wide receivers room.” @PSchrags on why @RAIDERS WR @JordyRNelson is already the biggest offseason addition at the wide receiver position. pic.twitter.com/4HBHMPyeP2
— GMFB (@gmfb) May 16, 2018
“Forget just the fact that he might be the best route runner in the entire NFL right now. The fact that he walked in and basically running the wide receivers room before OTAs even start. They think that Amari Cooper could be one of the best wide receivers in the NFL, not because of Cooper’s own skill set, but because Jordy Nelson is basically a quarterback in the wide receivers room…”
As a fan, Nelson looks like a quitter. Someone who can’t honor his commitment to the team he agreed to terms with. While the injury-prone receiver has a great reputation, this is a weak way out if he does, in fact, retire. Gulbransen walked his position back a few steps Monday morning.
Everyone needs to put on the brakes about Nelson…I haven't seen anything official from the team nor any publication. That includes our own. #Raiders
— Scott Gulbransen (@LVGully) November 12, 2018
Martavis Bryant potentially tears PCL in Sunday’s loss
While Nelson is healthy but mulling quitting, Bryant is a legit health concern. Bryant injured his PCL in the third quarter of the 20-6 loss to the Chargers Sunday. It was not clear Monday morning if he would be out for the season, which would mean the entire focal point of the receiving corps — Cooper, Nelson and Bryant — will be gone. Bryant has just 19 catches for 266 yards and has not scored a touchdown.
#Raiders WR Martavis Bryant suffered a possible PCL tear, source said. The hope is he doesn’t end up needing surgery, but he’s going to have an MRI to determine the severity. Either way, Bryant is going to miss time. Bad news.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 12, 2018
The Raiders originally traded for Bryant in the offseason before cutting him when rumors swirled of a potential season-long ban for violating the NFL’s arcane substance abuse policy regarding cannabis. Instead, the Raiders brought him back after getting blasted by the Los Angeles Rams opening night.
No word from the team, as of Monday morning, as to whether the injury would, in fact, keep him out the rest of the season. The team is expected to make necessary roster moves heading into its road game at Arizona once the results of the MRI give a clearer picture of the injury.