The Oakland Raiders battled the Denver Broncos on Monday Night Football for each teams season openers this past Monday. Both teams shaping out to have pretty good seasons with justifiable playoff hopes to start the season. Recently the Raiders have been in a struggle dealing with team operations and looney toons like Antonio Brown, causing unnecessary issues around the locker-room. As they pushed one problem out the door by releasing Brown, the Raiders are hit with what seemed to be like another huge blow.
As the Raiders led 14-3 late in the third quarter, Denver Broncos running back, Royce Freeman, busted one outside for a first down and more but was chased down from behind. Oakland’s starting cornerback, Gareon Conley, shed his blocker and made a play to bring down Freeman. As Freeman was bring dragged out of bounds by Conley, Jonathan Abram decided to lower his head and take a shot at Freeman and was awarded a personal foul for lowering the head to intimate contact.
Freedman and Abram both popped back up after the collision, Conley (who wasn’t even apart of the big hit) laid in pain on the Raiders sideline as he reached for his heck/neck. While the hit was taking place, Jonathan Abram’s right leg slammed into the top of Conley’s helmet causing his body to almost go limp.
They immediately brought the stretcher out of the tunnel being that it was an injury to the head/neck area. Both teams kneeled around Conley out of respect and concern as he was being treated to by paramedics and trainers.
After several minutes of scare and prayer, Conley was placed up on the stretcher and strapped in. His next play wouldn’t be on the football field, but making sure he could get back on the football field. Conley made sure to reassure the fans and his teammates that he was going to be “Ok” by raising his arm high and throwing up the *thumbs up* as he was carted off the field and back into the locker-room.
After the game, every football fan held their breath waiting to see what the media could tell us about the end result from the head/neck injury Conley suffered.
Adam Schafner shared an article on his twitter, written by Paul Gutierrez where Raiders head coach, Jon Grueden speaks on Conley’s behalf. “I got good word on him that he’s going to be OK,” “Don’t know his status for the next game, but most importantly, he’s all right. That was a scary hit that he took. But all the reports I have are very, very positive.”
Even with the updated helmets the NFL has whipped up for this season, head and neck injuries can not be controlled or predicted, but the NFL feels they have the ability to contain them as best as they can. Conley came out of this head/neck injury with the ability to still play the game he loves, so it looks like the NFL is heading in the right direction with these new helmets.
Beyond The Banks 