Through three weeks of the NFL season, it is clear that Terrelle Pryor is one of the best things to happen to the Oakland Raiders. The team might have gotten the loss against the Denver Broncos on Monday Night, but the young quarterback continued to fight and show signs of true potential that should inflict hope into the Raiders faithful. However, after suffering a concussion late in the game, the team is now facing quarterback uncertainly once again.
Pryor finished the game going 19-for-28 in passing for 281 yards and a 73-yard touchdown pass. He also ran for 36 yards on four attempts. Against a tough Denver Broncos defense, Pryor was the shining light for the Raiders. However, the quarterback's night ended early after he suffered a helmet-to-helmet hit against Wesley Woodyard with about 6:30 left to play in the game. Pryor was diagnosed with a concussion that leaves his status as doubtful for Sunday's game against the Washington Redskins.
Per NFL rules, Pryor was not allowed to speak to media as Matt Flynn made his regular season debut. The veteran emerged off the bench to take the field after the Raiders recovered a fumble. He toss a 19-yard pass that set up one last touchdown for Oakland as the game ended, 37-21. This was certainly not the scenario Flynn ever imagined happening after he signed with the team in the offseason, but he remains prepared for any situation.
"You've got to be ready at any time," Flynn said, via the San Mercury News. "Obviously the game didn't go the way we wanted to. But I got in there, we had good field position and I was able to get it in, so we were fortunate in that aspect."
Flynn would not discuss losing his starting job to Pryor as media hounded him about his demotion. He did vow to be ready if the Raiders needed him to start against the Redskins on Sunday. Pryor will undergo concussion tests throughout the week to determine whether or not he will be cleared to play. Beat writers reported that Pryor did not look disoriented after the game as he stood by his locker.
Head coach Dennis Allen noted that the hit did not look illegal from his point of view despite it being helmet-to-helmet. He would not discuss Pryor's status, simply saying the team would follow league rules and take precautions like they would with every other player. When Pryor was in the game, he continued to look more improved than he did last week and teammates are noticing.
"It's a guy that's getting his chance, and with each week, he's getting a little bit more comfortable," Raiders safety Charles Woodson said, via ESPN.com. "He did some good things tonight, so it would be a tough blow [to lose him], especially for him and his development as a player if he's not able to shake it off and bounce back and come back next week."