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ALAMEDA – Raiders special teams ace Taiwan Jones spent the latter stages of this preseason on the shelf with a knee strain. He returned early last week, rebounded and was ready for the regular season.
His health didn’t last long. Jones severely injured his foot on Sunday against the New York Jets and did not return.
The outlook is not good.
“I would imagine that he would be out for some time,” head coach Dennis Allen said in a Monday press conference.
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Allen said it’s “too early” to make a decision regarding a trip to season-ending injured reserve, but it’s always tough to carry dead weight on the 53-man roster for a prolonged period.
While Allen didn’t give an exact diagnosis or estimated recovery timetable, Jones actions on Sunday don’t make his playing prospects seem promising.
CSN Bay Area cameras tracked Jones as he was helped off the field by trainers, lifted onto a cart just outside of plain view. He put his head into his hands as he was taken to get evaluated further.
Jones didn’t contribute much as a corner or a return man this season, but he was strong in coverage. It’s uncertain when or if he will return this season.
Allen said middle linebacker Nick Roach still hasn’t been cleared to play due to concussion-like symptoms. He was held out of Sunday’s game, with Miles Burris starting in his stead.
“He’s still out as of right now,” Allen said. “We’ll have to wait and see where he’s at when the players are back in here on Wednesday, but as of right now he’s still not ready to practice.”
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Roach was limited in practice last week, according to the Raiders official participation report, but he wasn’t doing anything outside individual drills.
The Raiders certainly miss Roach, who played every defensive snap last season.
“Obviously not having Nick, with what he’s able to bring to us from a communication standpoint, I mean that’s a disappointment to not have him in the game,” Allen said. “I thought Miles went in there and held himself pretty well. I thought he played pretty solid.”
