Story by
Raiders Get Concerning Tonka Hemingway Injury Update Ahead of Bills Game
- Story by
- Raiders Get Concerning Tonka Hemingway Injury Update Ahead of Bills Game
(IMAGN IMAGES)
The Las Vegas Raiders have another injury concern on their defensive line following Sunday's blowout loss to the New England Patriots.
Defensive tackle Tonka Hemingway has entered the NFL's concussion protocol after leaving the Raiders' 45-17 defeat in the first quarter.
Advertisement
The development puts his availability for Sunday's game against the Buffalo Bills in question.
Hemingway initially left the Patriots game with what was described as a stinger or neck injury. He went to the locker room for further evaluation and was subsequently ruled out for the remainder of the contest.
On Monday, Hemingway was confirmed to be in concussion protocol ahead of the Week 6 matchup with Buffalo.
That doesn't automatically rule him out against the Bills, but he must complete the NFL's concussion protocol before he can return to game action.
The injury comes at a difficult time for a Raiders defense looking to rebound from its worst performance of the season.
Advertisement
New England piled up 536 yards of total offense Sunday, including 165 on the ground, as Las Vegas suffered its second consecutive loss after opening the season with three straight victories.
The Raiders' defensive struggles against New England were particularly troubling after the unit had shown promise during the team's 3-0 start.
The former South Carolina standout has become a contributor in the middle of the Raiders' defensive front during his second NFL season.
Through five games, Hemingway has recorded 14 combined tackles, according to the team's official statistics, including one in his abbreviated appearance against New England.
Advertisement
He has provided interior depth alongside Adam Butler, Thomas Booker, Jonah Laulu and Fatukasi.
If Hemingway cannot play against Buffalo, the Raiders could need additional snaps from their other defensive linemen as they prepare to face another challenging opponent.
Las Vegas has already struggled to contain opposing rushing attacks, a problem that continued against New England.
The Patriots added to those difficulties Sunday, consistently finding room to run while controlling the line of scrimmage.
The performance raised broader questions about whether the Raiders can regroup after their lopsided loss .
Advertisement
Hemingway's health, however, presents a more immediate concern.
The NFL's concussion protocol requires players to complete a five-step process and receive clearance from both the team physician and an independent neurological consultant before returning to game action.
There is no fixed timetable for completing the process, leaving Hemingway's status for Sunday uncertain.
The Raiders' upcoming practice reports should provide a clearer indication of his progress ahead of the Buffalo game.
For now, Las Vegas faces the possibility of entering Week 6 without one of its young defensive-line contributors.
