Aside from Terrelle Pryor, the Raiders are finally getting healthy. And for Matt McGloin, the timing couldn't be better.
It’s official. Matt McGloin is in, and Terrelle Pryor has been ruled out.
When the Raiders choose heads or tails Sunday morning, the rookie quarterback will be one of the three Oakland players standing at midfield, wearing sweats and a ball cap after aggravating a knee injury last week.
Coach Dennis Allen wouldn’t specify which type of knee injury Pryor had sustained, though it is believed to be an MCL sprain.
The MCL (medial collateral ligament) is one of four ligaments that support the knee and recovery times can vary depending on the severity. A grade I MCL sprain can heal in one or two weeks, while a grade II MCL sprain can take up to four weeks.
McGloin, who has never started an NFL game, has been called upon to take over already this year. When Oakland hosted Philadelphia, he played the fourth quarter when Pryor initially sustained his injury.
McGloin threw for 87 yards on seven completions with no touchdowns or interceptions. On McGloin, coach Allen said:
“(McGloin) is pretty much the same guy. He’s prepared himself to be ready to go if his name is called and obviously he’s taken most of the reps up to this point on the show team.”
Allen went on to say that he’s got a lot of confidence in himself — and the Raiders do as well.
While at Penn State, McGloin was the first quarterback to walk-on and then start in over 60 years. He also set the school record for passing touchdowns with 45. He had a career passer rating of 130.2 and also set a Nittany Lions record with six 300+ yard passing games.
In fact, McGloin set nearly every school record for his position.
During practice this week, McGloin displayed good mechanics and a solid arm. Now there is one accomplishment in his sights: To be the first Raiders quarterback to win his first start since Daunte Culpepper led Oakland to a 26-24 victory over the Cleveland Browns in 2007.
McGloin’s family will be there watching, something he thinks might help:
“I always have wanted to impress (my two older brothers.) … You always want to learn as you go and not make the same mistake twice. It’s a performance based business. … Not taking a backseat to anybody is a mentality that I think all quarterback’s should have.”
There’s that confidence that Allen spoke of, and it flows.
One thing McGloin lacks is the speed and athleticism of Pryor. He’s a pocket quarterback, and will be lucky to have Andre Gurode at left guard, replacing Lucas Nix, and Tony Pashos at left tackle.
Aside from Pryor, the Raiders are finally getting healthy. And for McGloin, the timing couldn’t be better.
In corresponding moves, the team signed fourth-round draft choice quarterback Tyler Wilson and waived defensive lineman Brian Sanford. Wilson started 24 college games for the University and Arkansas, setting school records with 7,765 passing yards and 593 completions.
The Raiders kick with Houston at 10 a.m. PT. The game will be televised on CBS.
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