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Raiders quarterback Derek Carr left Thursday night’s game against the Chargers after injuring his groin in a scrum. Las Vegas coach Jon Gruden believes the injury is serious.
Carr started to limp as he finished the third game at the end of the first quarter. He then made his way to the Las Vegas locker room as the Raiders threw a basket to reduce their deficit to 7-3.
“I don’t think it’s a real tear,” Gruden told reporters. “But obviously if he can’t finish the game, that has to be pretty important.”
Alternate quarterback Marcus Mariota resumed the Las Vegas offense with Carr out. It was Mariota’s first appearance for the Raiders since signing a two-year deal with them during the offseason. He spent the first five seasons of his NFL career with the Titans after being drafted second overall by Tennessee outside Oregon in 2015.
RAIDERS-CHARGERS: Live updates, highlights
Mariota threw a 35-yard touchdown pass to tight end Darren Waller in his first practice, as part of a 5-for-5 passing performance in the first half.
Mariota finished the night 17 for 28 for 226 yards, with a touchdown and an interception. He also ran nine times for 88 yards and one score. He led Las Vegas (7-7) to a field goal in the first set of overtime, but the Chargers (5-9) responded with a 1-yard touchdown from Justin Herbert on a stealthy quarterback for win 30-27.
Mariota became the first QB to have over 200 passing yards and over 75 rushing yards when she hadn’t started the game since MC Reynolds in 1958.
“It just shows the kind of player, the kind of football character he has,” said Gruden. “Our offensive coordinator [Greg Olson] is not here either. You lose Derek and then we shifted offensively and Marcus came in and did a great job and [I’m] really proud of him.
“I think that sort of thing puts an exclamation mark on why we signed him and just wish we could have won the game for him.”
Content from Stats Perform News has been used in this report.
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