What was thought to be an injured left ankle is an injured Achilles for Keyron Crawford, costing him his rookie season for the Las Vegas Raiders.
The first-year defensive end was carted off the Allegiant Stadium sideline Thursday during the preseason finale against the San Francisco 49ers with what was announced as an ankle injury. But Raiders coach Klint Kubiak clarified Wednesday morning after practice at Intermountain Health Performance Center that the third-round pick instead sustained a season-ending Achilles injury.
He was placed this week on injured reserve, depriving him development and depriving Las Vegas youth and depth across its new-look defensive front.
Crawford posted Sunday to Instagram a picture of his left foot in a walking boot with a scooter by right. Atop the picture, printed in white against a black background red “A part of the journey God gives his toughest battles to his strongest soldiers AGTG (all glory to God)” with the prayer hands emoji. He also added “RNFL (Raider Nation for life)” with a pirate flag emoji.
Though Crawford won’t play football this season, “coming back for next season absolutely is on the table,” per Dr. Nirav Pandya, an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine specialist at University of California, San Francisco. Pandya said with modern rehabilitation and recovery, Achilles tears for football players tend to come with a return-to-play timelines ranging nowadays from six to nine months.
Also working in Crawford’s favor are age (22) and position (defensive end), Pandya said, because “you’re really thinking more about forward kind of movements” instead of explosion with verticality.
“Pass rushers in general do better,” he added. “The positions that you worry a little more about are wide receivers, running backs that are doing large, open-field, full sprint-type activities. For someone who is on the line, yeah, you could potentially lose a little bit of strength. But honestly, if you’re going to pick a position where you’re probably going to do the best (recovering from a torn Achilles), it’s someone who plays on the line.”
Pandya also distilled the difference between returning to workout — as rehabilitating athletes often document via social media — and returning to play, noting accelerated recovery might mean Crawford is running sooner than conventional wisdom would suggest.
Forming the Raider rush this season are Maxx Crosby, Kwity Paye, Malcolm Koonce and Patrick Johnson. Crawford should rejoin the rotation next season.
“There’s a lot of time that goes in from just like running and doing things to play in an NFL game,” Pandya said. “That’s why sometimes it takes nine months.”
Contact Sam Gordon at sgordon@reviewjournal.com. Follow @BySamGordon on X.
