OAKLAND -- Raiders rookie quarterback Derek Carr rolled right to escape pressure, but couldn't outrun the wrecking ball. The second-round pick was tackled from behind, with all 6-foot-6, 262 pounds of defensive end Larry Webster slamming him to the ground.
Carr walked off the field clutching his ribs late in Friday's 27-26 preseason victory over the Detroit Lions, and maintained that posture as he headed for the locker room. His ribs are sore, but that's apparently not the major issue. Head coach Dennis Allen said Carr was diagnosed with a concussion.
"His ribs are sore. I don't know exactly what his ribs are," Allen said. "But the concussion is why he left the game."
Carr must pass through the NFL-mandated protocol on concussions before returning to practice. The Raiders have a day off before returning to work on Sunday afternoon.
The NFL does not allow concussed players to speak with the press until they are cleared for physical activity. Therefore, Carr was not available for comment.
The concussion made for an unfortunate end to a solid performance. Carr was 9-for-16 passing for 109 yards and a touchdown. He led the Raiders to 13 points in four complete series. He got injured on the fifth.
He also got reps with the first unit, something Allen said was not in his plans just last week.
"After we took the ball down there and scored, we talked about it some," Allen said. "We were going to take (starter Matt Schaub) out, and we decided to give him a series behind the first offensive line to see how he reacted. There wasn't really anything to that."
That last sentence, translated: This is not the start of a quarterback controversy. Schaub remains the starter, though it's clear the Raiders are enamored by Carr's superior arm strength, agility and awareness.
Carr's first-team reps came after Schaub orchestrated his first touchdown drive as a Raider. The veteran starter rebounded well after an unlucky start, where a pass clanked off receiver James Jones' hands before being intercepted after a funny bounce.
Carr led the first-unit to a field goal, and scored points on three of his four complete drives. He was at his best during a touchdown drive that ended with a 3-yard pass to tight end Jake Murphy. He was 6-for-6 for 74 yards on that drive.
"I thought he was better in this game," Allen said. "I thought he showed some improvement, and that there were times he threw the ball accurately. He made some good decisions. There were some plays he wishes he could have back, but he did well overall."
