The Raiders RB Kenyan Drake season-ending surgery will take place later this week
After the unfortunate tackle that left him with a fractured ankle, the Las Vegas Raiders running back Kenyan Drake season-ending surgery will take place in Birmingham, Alabama. Drake was carted off the field during the past Sunday’s Week 13 game against the Washington Football Team.
Kenyan Drake had a similar injury last season when he suffered a high ankle sprain against the Seattle Seahawks when playing for the Arizona Cardinals. He only missed one game because of that injury, so this instance was a whole lot different, and most importantly, one that could have been avoided.
Las Vegas Raiders interim coach Rich Bisaccia stated in Monday’s weekly news conference that there was frustration after the Kenyan Drake season-ending surgery news broke. “When you look at the play on tape, it did not look intentional. I think he got himself in a funky body position at the end, when he went to finish the guy kind of rolled him over, got his ankle caught underneath there,” said Bisaccia.
Washington Football Team’s defensive tackle Daniel Wise tackled and abnormally twisted and rolled down Kenyan Drake from behind in the second quarter of the game. Drake took it to twitter and mentioned that that kind of tackle “should be an illegal form of tackling like a horse collar.” Take a look for yourself below as he also provided a clip of the tackle.
Kenyan Drake Season-Ending Surgery Tweet
Graphic Video Warning: The #NFL needs to look at this specific style of tackling. They are throwing flags for taunting and protecting qbs from getting touched but this is my 2nd straight season being injured by a guy pulling me back and using his body weight to roll up my legs. pic.twitter.com/zgJt4rM9yG
— Kenyan Drake™ (@KDx32) December 6, 2021
Drake continued, “If the emphasis is to protect the players this should be an illegal form of tackling like a horse collar. We lose players weekly to high ankle sprains and broken bones but the league would rather flag players for erroneous taunting penalties. Let’s get the priorities together.” Other NFL players seemed to show support for the sixth year running back with retweets.
The talented change-of-pace back is on a two-year free-agent contract with the Raiders this summer worth $14.5 million, with $11 million guaranteed. The Kenyan Drake season stats have tallied up for 254 yards, two touchdowns on 63 rushes, and 29 catches for 283 yards and a touchdown in support of Raiders starting running back Josh Jacobs.
The injuries don’t stop there as fullback Alec Ingold is out for the season after tearing his ACL in his right knee. Backup running back Jalen Richard was placed on the reserve list prior to Sunday’s game against WFT but may get more time now due to the situation.
Following the Kenyan Drake season-ending surgery, the Raiders should have a better understanding of the rehabilitation time frame for Drake’s fractured right ankle, although he may be able to return for OTAs in the springtime. Jalen Richard and Peyton Barber are now the only running back depth options behind starter Josh Jacobs. With Drake out of the picture, Jacobs might take on a somewhat larger role with more carries and targets.