Back Injury Suffered by Raiders' Carr Not Considered Long Term, Will Push to Play Vs Baltimore

DENVER – Derek Carr surveyed his the pattern, and saw Raiders receivers covered well. The Pro Bowl quarterback tried to create space with his feet and tried to take off.

The Broncos didn't let that happen. Shelby Harris knocked him off balance. Adam Gotsis finished him off, tackling him by the neck. It put tremendous strain on his back. And pulled him from the game.

The Raiders believe it won't keep him out long, if at all.

Head coach Jack Del Rio said Carr had back spasms.

"It should be something that cleans up quickly," Del Rio said.

Carr rebutted Del Rio's diagnosis some after a 16-10 loss to the Denver Broncos at Sports Authority Field.

"I'm glad he knows," Carr said. "That's awesome. That sounds good to me."

Carr remains optimistic he'll get a green light next week against Baltimore. He had X-Rays during the game that turned up negative for structural damage. Carr tried to loosen his back, but didn't feel comfortable enough to return.

"I just wanted some pain to wear off and just go from there," Carr said. "I came in there and had them work on it. I tried to throw, but it just wasn't ready. Yet. That's not to say it won't be. It just wasn't ready today. I tried to do anything I could to be out there, but I just couldn't do it."

Carr would guarantee a return next week, but will push to play. He was clearly in pain after the game, but hoped the issue would subside quickly.

"(I don't feel) too good, but neither does anyone in the NFL," Carr said. "We're going to do the treatment and all those kinds of things. Y'all know me. It's going to take a lot to keep me off the field."

That's great news for the Raiders, who are completely reliant on their franchise quarterback for success. Fear struck when No. 4 went down, but news of his health brought the locker room some life after a disappointing loss.

"It felt like the whole sideline got its wind knocked out," defensive lineman Mario Edwards Jr. said. "I talked to him after, and it was great to hear that he's good. We're not worried about it. We're ready to go back to work."