Henry Ruggs III, Alabama Crimson Tide. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
Oakland Raiders rookie Henry Ruggs III suffered a thigh injury during his move.
Rumors of a Henry Ruggs III injury injury swirled on Monday, as the Raiders rookie suffered a freak thigh ailment during a move. His father later confirmed said report after the Raiders released a vague statement highlighting his medical privacy.
However, regardless of the reason for Ruggs injury, the Raiders ought to be concerned about his long-term future. After spending a first-round pick on the speedster out of Alabama, it took exactly (checks watch) zero practices or games for him to get injured.
Not to mention, such an issue took place miles away from the nearest football field.
Should the Raiders be concerned about Henry Ruggs III thigh injury?
There’s always a chance that Ruggs’ ailment was slightly dramatized, but such an incision surely could’ve been far worse. Per his father, thankfully, there are no long-term effects other than a lack of trust with Raider Nation.
“He was trying to move a trailer or something — move furniture or something — and the trailer just kind of pinned him against a car or a wall or something,” Henry Ruggs Jr. told ESPN’s Adam Schefter. “He’s pretty much OK, I’m about to go out there and see him in a little bit. It was just like a little open wound on his leg, a little incision. Like something had stuck him right there on his thigh a little bit.”
Ruggs was seen on crutches in the aftermath of such an incident, moving far slower than his 4.27 40-yard dash time.
While every athlete is subject to day-to-day injuries, the Raiders have so much invested in Ruggs as the future No. 1 target for Derek Carr, or whoever takes over in his place in 2021. With the COVID-19 pandemic potential delaying the start of Training Camp, Vegas is subject to any and all risk on their investment for a prolonged period of time, something that should make Jon Gruden and Mark Davis very uncomfortable.