Callahan may play it safe with Garner

[Gunzlingr]

NAPA -- The Oakland Raiders company line is that running back Charlie Garner's mysterious knee injury is nothing to worry about.
Given Garner's history of durability and recuperative powers, the assessment seems plausible enough, and coach Bill Callahan's inclination to sit him out of Thursday night's game against the San Francisco 49ers is the logical move.

It does give pause for consideration of Garner's value and what the Raiders would do if they ever lost him when it matters.

For now, it will be Tyrone Wheatley starting at Candlestick Park, quickly giving way to second-year man Madre Hill and rookie third-round draft pick Justin Fargas.

Part of the evaluation process by Raiders coaches in choosing their running backs will be to determine which player or players would help pick up the slack in a regular-season game should Garner have to sit.

Although unsure exactly how Garner sustained the injury or even which knee it was, Cal- lahan said the running back had an MRI that showed no structural damage.



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[Gunzlingr]

RAIDERS NOTEBOOK
MRI results negative on Garner's knee

Charlie Garner's sore right knee looked like no big deal on Monday. By Tuesday, the Raiders were taking the sudden injury more seriously, and Garner, the team's starting tailback, underwent an MRI exam to rule out serious damage.

The Raiders' fears were alleviated when results came back negative. Garner is listed as doubtful for Thursday's exhibition game against the 49ers at Candlestick Park, and the Raiders' leading rusher in 2002 might stay off the field for several days.

Garner pulled up lame Monday in the middle of a drill with pads. "We don't know how it happened," Raiders coach Bill Callahan said Tuesday. "We went through the nine-on-seven (drill); I tried to find it on film -- we all did -- and we couldn't see it."

http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/article.cgi?f=/c/a/2003/08/13/SP217984.DTL

[Gunzlingr]

Sore knee could sideline Garner for 49ers' game

NAPA -- Timing is everything in football. In this case, make that bad timing.

Starting running back Charlie Garner, a former 49er, has a sore left knee that probably will sideline him for Thursday's exhibition game against San Francisco. Raiders coach Bill Callahan called Garner "doubtful" for the game.

"We're hopeful that he'll play, but it seems as though we may be a little bit more cautious, a little bit more conservative regarding Charlie," Callahan said Tuesday.

According to Callahan, an MRI of Garner's knee was "negative." Garner suffered the injury Monday during a nine-on-seven drill in pads and missed practice Tuesday.

"It was a non-contact injury," Callahan said.

http://www.bayarea.com/mld/cctimes/sports/6523012.htm

[Cntrygal]

Great job at updating!


I may have to sneak over to a Raider site that I frequent, and see what they have to say about this.