INDIANAPOLIS -- While no final decision has been made, Oakland Raiders middle linebacker Nick Roach may not play this season because of continued concussion symptoms that first appeared last preseason and cost him the entire 2014 season.
Oakland general manager Reggie McKenzie said Wednesday that Roach is still experiencing symptoms and he has not been cleared. Roach suffered a concussion Aug. 22 in a preseason game at the Green Bay Packers. He was put on the injured reserve after he missed several games. McKenzie didn’t say any decisions were made, but he sounded as if the team is worried about Roach’s ability to play again.
“You’ve got to start looking out for the player. We’ll continue to communicate with the medical staff and I’ll talk to Nick and we’ll make the decision,” McKenzie said. “But I’m in the best interests of the player and as much as we’d love him to be our signal caller on defense, I don’t want to risk life-long injury if he goes out there. Especially if he has any, not discomfort, but any type of feeling within him that something’s not right. And for it to last this long is not a good thing.”
Roach, who Oakland signed as a free agent from Chicago in 2013, didn’t miss a defensive play in his first season with the Raiders. He was replaced by Miles Burris last season. McKenzie acknowledged Oakland will be looking for a middle linebacker.
Meanwhile, starting outside linebacker Sio Moore is not expected to be ready until training camp due to his recovery from a hip injury that ended his season in December and required surgery. While Moore will miss the OTA season, McKenzie expects him to have no trouble being ready for the season.
