Bryant done for season...Gibson to start on Sunday...Upshaw

[SoCalRaider]

Posted on Tue, Dec. 03, 2002

[b:5a19e63e78]Loss of Raiders' Bryant not as painful as feared[/b:5a19e63e78]

By Steve Corkran
CONTRA COSTA TIMES

ALAMEDA - Raiders starting defensive end Tony Bryant is through playing this season because of a neck injury that isn't healing as well as hoped, coach Bill Callahan said Tuesday.

It won't be official until the Raiders place Bryant on the injured-reserve list, a move expected by today, at the latest.

Callahan said he arrived at his decision on Bryant after receiving the results from the latest of several MRIs Bryant underwent Friday.

"His MRI was not encouraging," Callahan said.

Bryant sustained his injury in a helmet-to-helmet collision with 49ers fullback Fred Beasley in overtime of their game Nov. 3. He missed Oakland's past four games, while team doctors, a specialist in North Carolina and Bryant's agent assessed the likelihood of Bryant's returning from a bruised spinal cord.

At the time, it appeared as if Bryant's injury would weaken Oakland's defense. However, the Raiders have won all four games since Bryant's injury and received inspired play from all of their defensive linemen.

Also, end Regan Upshaw on Monday night returned from a right knee injury that caused him to miss Oakland's first 11 games.

He showed Monday night against the New York Jets that he is capable of providing a boost and helping replace Bryant, Callahan said.

Callahan cited a play on the Jets' final drive of the game, with the Raiders nursing a 26-20 lead and Jets quarterback Chad Pennington needing a touchdown pass. Defensive tackle Rod Coleman sacked Pennington on a play that cost the Jets 11 yards, valuable time and a realistic shot at getting that touchdown.

"He was lined up over their left tackle and made an inside move and ran right over the left guard," Callahan said of Upshaw. "Ran right over him and flushed Pennington out into Coleman's hands."

Upshaw didn't record any tackles in limited action -- 18 plays, according to Callahan -- but he got consistent pressure on Pennington and warranted plenty of attention from Jets blockers. That is precisely the type of production the Raiders received from Bryant.

"To have that type of juice, to come off the bench late in the game, and give you an extra boost, an extra momentum, an extra surge in your pass rush, was good," Callahan said.

The prospect of losing Bryant for the rest of the season not long ago would have seemed like a daunting one because he was their most consistent pass rusher the first half of the season.

Also, end Trace Armstrong struggled early on in his return from a ruptured Achilles tendon last season. Suddenly, defensive line is the strength of Oakland's solid, if not spectacular, defense.

The emergence of the defensive line into a reliable unit comes at a perfect time, Callahan said. The Raiders' final four regular-season games are against teams that feature four of the most productive running backs in the league this season -- the San Diego Chargers' LaDainian Tomlinson, the Miami Dolphins' Ricky Williams, the Denver Broncos' Clinton Portis and the Kansas City Chiefs' Priest Holmes.

"I know what's ahead of us," Callahan said. "Not only San Diego ahead of us, but I look at the top rushers in the AFC. We have a murderer's row, so to speak, in the next four weeks. (Oakland's defensive linemen) are going to be key components, they are going to be instrumental in our ability to stop the run. Because in this crunch time and in this closing part of the season, we have to be able to stop the run."

NOTES: Callahan said strong safety Derrick Gibson (left calf strain) is expected "at full strength for San Diego" on Sunday. Gibson did not play against the Jets. ... Cornerback Charles Woodson (right ankle sprain) did not exacerbate the injury he sustained during the fourth quarter Monday by returning to the game, Callahan said. He is expected to start against San Diego. ... Free safety Rod Woodson's game-ending interception Monday increased his season total to five and his career total to 66. It also moved him past former Cincinnati Bengals cornerback Ken Riley into fourth place all time.

[BK]

Has anyone heard what Bryant has exactly?

[crizpynutz]

Bryant still has a contusion of the spinal cord.

[SoCalRaider]

[b:1ed1c6c598]DE Bryant is ruled out for season[/b:1ed1c6c598]

By Bill Soliday STAFF WRITER

ALAMEDA -- Tony Bryant will not be back this season.

After the Oakland Raiders defensive end underwent a fourth MRI, it was determined that the bruised spinal cord the starter suffered on Nov.3 against the 49ers had not healed sufficiently for him to play again this year.

Bryant will be placed on injured reserve, leaving the Raiders with a roster opening.

"His MRI was not encouraging," coach Bill Callahan said. "We're going to sit down in the coming days and look at where we're at from a personnel standpoint and make some decisions."

He said the team was flexible and could sign another defensive player or decide for a special-teams type player.

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[RaiderBlitz]

Back and spin injuries scare me the most. Bryants injury is one that needs to heel a 100% . We have the depth and I want him a 100% for next year. That is one thing about Calli if player have had serious injuries he doen't rush them. Better to have them 100% then 80% playing and ending up hurt more,