Josh McDaniels Explains Why Waller, Renfrow Were Moved To IR
Nov 11, 2022, 12:42 PM
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - OCTOBER 04: Darren Waller #83 and Hunter Renfrow #13 of the Las Vegas Raiders walk off the field after the team's 30-23 loss to the Buffalo Bills in the NFL game at Allegiant Stadium on October 4, 2020 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
(Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)
On Thursday, the Las Vegas Raiders moved two of their offensive weapons, Darren Waller and Hunter Renfrow, to IR.
Both will miss a minimum of four games before they’re eligible to return.
Waller has been out with a hamstring injury since the team’s Week 5 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. ESPN’s Adam Schefter said in his tweet Renfrow has been bothered by an oblique injury. While speaking to the media on Friday, coach Josh McDaniels said both players “tried hard to get healthy,” but this move was made with the intention of giving them enough time to heal.
“You just kind of take the whole picture into view here and think that maybe giving them an opportunity to not rush and feel so stressed about getting back this week, and they’re trying their butt off to do that,” McDaniels said. “But just give them an opportunity to get truly healthy and feel really good, and then have an opportunity to come out and play their best.”
And so due to various injuries, the Raiders now will have had their Big Four – Josh Jacobs, Davante Adams, Hunter Renfrow and Darren Waller – on the field together this season for a grand total of 43 plays. https://t.co/EPOuDMOiFm
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) November 10, 2022
When asked how this impacts scheming, McDaniels said it’s impossible to go into a game with only one plan.
“They know the system and the scheme, and sometimes it’s just as simple as changing it from one personnel grouping to another,” McDaniels said. “We’re still running the same stuff and those guys understand that. We’ve got a bright group and they acclimate pretty quickly to it, whether it happens in a week or during the course of the game.”
Along with placing two important offensive weapons on IR Thursday, linebacker Blake Martinez announced his retirement. When asked if these moves can impact a team’s morale, McDaniels said it’s all part of the game.
“The energy we’ve had at practice this week has been special,” McDaniels said. “And I think that’s a tribute to the guys. Like I said, we know where we’re at. We know what the situation is. We didn’t want to be in this situation, but it is what it is. We’re the ones that put us here. And so, we’re the ones that are going to dig us out too, and so I think not focusing on just the results that we’ve seen, or the things that are going on around us.”
