Breaking News (Literally): Chaz Schilens Breaks Foot in Practice

I hate my life.

As reported by David White and Jerry Mac on Twitter……..

“Not good, Chaz Schilens on crutches, says there is broken bone in there. No timetable for return.” @bydavidwhite

“Schilens on crutches, left foot, 5th metatarsal … doesn’t know time frame. Was there best player in camp overall.” @jerrymcd

This is not good news. Sure, Walker is looking good in his rehab, DHB is coming along, and JLH is back as out slot guy, but Schilens was our best WR by far. Quite possably one of the greatest 7th rounders in memory for the Raiders. He still has a chance to be a star, but this hurts.

According to this link…..

http://www.podiatrytoday.com/article/5382

“In athletes, almost all fifth metatarsal fractures require surgical treatment. Given the high rates of delayed union, non-union or recurring fracture, early surgical intervention via ORIF or intramedullary fixation is strongly recommended.”

Also, from the reading that I have done, it appears that the best case scenario is 6-8 weeks. Shilens will likely have surgery, and wear an immobility boot for that length of time. Then, possible rehab depending on amount of time he is forced to spend away.

Well folks, brace yourselves. Bad things happen in threes. Yesterday we had the Cable controversy, today Shilens breaks a bone. What’s next? Sheesh!

The best-case scenario for Schilens is that he misses just four weeks and that would mean that he misses one game. A scenario in which I’d be happy with is if he misses six weeks and that’s three games. The latter is probably more accurate.

I’m trying to calm down and think about this rationally. We have depth — granted, it’s unproven — and between Javon Walker, Johnnie Lee Higgins, Louis Murphy and Darrius Heyward-Bey, we should be able to hold the fort down.

There is basically a four-player battle for two starting spots now. I’d like to think that Heyward-Bey, being the seventh overall pick, is going to earn his starting job. Along with him, it’ll probably be Walker. You can switch in and out Walker with Murphy and Heyward-Bey with Higgins. Sprinkling in Nick Miller along with the threats from Zach Miller and Darren McFadden, we should be fine.

Everything is going wrong this week. Also, the game I will go to seems to be missing all our good players. Schilenz, Tom Cable. Freak!!!!

SHIT!!!!!!……. why!!!!?!?!!

How can this happen over & over to the same team?

got panicked, but then I thought, “is this really that bad?” Answer, no. Schilens was going to have a great year, I could feel it. Now he’ll miss a few games (I’ll say he’ll miss 5 or 6), but we already have receivers in the wings that are actually very similar to Schilens.

Javon Walker- he’s slowed down quite a bit, but seems to have some really good hands. He can easily fill that possession receiver ability that Schilens had

Louis Murphy- Schilens ran a 4.3, Murphy ran a 4.3. Schilens caught just about every pass in practice, Murphy catches about every pass in practice. Schilens goes for tough catches, Murphy goes for tough catches. Schilens likes to make catches in traffic and doesn’t shy away from taking a hit, so does Murphy. Very identical, just Schilens has slightly better hands and one year of experience on Murphy.

Ideal depth chart:

1. DHB
2. Walker

these two should get the most playing time because you have a speed threat-possession threat combo which is always very effective in the NFL. Ward-Holmes, Moss-Welker, Wayne-Gonzales, and Smith-Muhammed; speed-hands tandems are always very effective. DHB’s speed on deep routes is enough to draw doubles and open up Walker on underneath passes, while Walker on third and shorts could keep some attention away from DHB on a deeper route.

Speed-hands combos match every situation that an offense will face and is always great to have.

from there:

3. Higgins if for the simple fact he’s a matchup nightmare in the slot
4. Murphy
5. Miller

So we still have three speed threats (Higgins, Miller, DHB), a possession receiver (Walker), and a base receiver (Murphy). While this does hamper our receiving corps a bit, it won’t ruin the passing game.

All this and we still have Miller, McFadden, Bush, and even Lorenzo Neal can catch.

Oakland has a ton of receiving options, all it comes down to is how consistent the line will be and how consistent Russell will be.

This is truly a setback, then again he may be back by Week 3. I don’t see this being a Four Week Thing.

Javon, Miller, DHB, Miller, McFadden, JLH and Bush should be able to hold it down until then.

I wonder where Arman Shields is? Or, in that case Sammy Parker?

We are definitely stoked to have Will Franklin at this point.

I very highly doubt that the Raiders will sign Marvin Harrison because of this.

bad luck continues

Our receivers will need to step up. There has not been 1 Great Team I can recall who played with ALLtheir players Shit Happens suck it up and step up he might be back in week 3 and I am looking forward to that.

This is possibly the best possible time for a set back such as this. He has been at all OTA’s and a a lot of camp and will mis minimal amount or the regular season as we still have weeks of pre season

as long as everything heals well, we should be in good shape until he comes back. I am mor econcerened about our starting defense as they did not look great in the Cowboys game, hopefully they will get it figured out.

I was really hopin Chaz would have dusted Nate Clements in our next game too!!

“I’ll support those guys and help them any way I can and try to hurry up and get back out here as fast as I can. I can’t focus on the negative. I’ve got to just look for the healing process right now and move forward.”

I love People like this 110% on the sidelines you would never see someone like T.O or Randy Moss say this.

The St. Louis Post-Dispatch is reporting that Donnie Avery, who broke his foot on August 7th, is ahead of schedule with his recovery.

Wide receiver Donnie Avery, who was expected to miss at least a month after breaking a bone in his left foot in the Aug. 7 scrimmage at Lindenwood University, is no longer wearing an orthopedic boot and is lobbying for an earlier return. Like, right now.

“Donnie wants to go; that’s Donnie,” Spagnuolo said. “Keenan (Burton) was the same way in the spring (with a hamstring injury). I would rather have guys like that, but we’re just trying to be smart.”

Even with this timeframe in mind, Schilens has to be considered out for Opening Night against San Diego. It would be nice to have him for the KC and Denver games though, to try and go 2-1 (3-0? Please?) in the division to start the year.

anyone who says this might be a blessing hasn’t seen or doesn’t know what Chaz can really do as a WR for this team.. sure it’s nice to give everyone a fair shot at playing but be realistic we need a good season like we need to replace Al Davis

Coach Cable confirmed during today’s post-practice press conference that WR Chaz Schilens had surgery on his broken left foot today. Start your 4-6 weeks clocks now.

I hope this guy bounces back soon, because I was looking forward to watching him this season. He looked like he was going to be a beast, and young QBs can really use a guy like him.

i dont think hell play on MNF.

 I trust that they are doing what feels right for the team, and I hear what your saying abt the safeties they did struggle in the preseason game early on. but Lo Neal could have stayed on as the blocking fullback which he is great at and O’Neal as runner/receiver FB.

releasing Lorenzo Neal this early. He was easily the best player we had on the offensive side of the ball as far as experience and leadership. He’s also a proven pro bowler. Hopefully this isn’t a sign of more bad things to come.