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Raiders Should See Top Cornerback Against Arizona
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- Raiders Should See Top Cornerback Against Arizona
Raiders Should See Top Cornerback Against Arizona
(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
When the Las Vegas Raiders drafted cornerback Jermod McCoy, there were serious questions about his ability to stay healthy. McCoy slid from first-round talent to fourth round pick based on his balky knee, and if he does get hurt the injury is expected to be a career-ender.
But McCoy is healthy so far, and he's expected to get on the field when the Raiders play the Arizona Cardinals tomorrow night. His workload so far has been higher than the Raiders expected, so he's just taking it all in right now, according to a piece written by Sam Warren of The Athletic.
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"I'm gonna just look around, take it all in," McCoy said. "Just remember at any point, this game can be taken from you. So just always cherishing these moments."
The Raiders have been careful with McCoy, but he's been clearing each benchmark at it arrives.
"I was on a little limit, but I've been able to exceed that," McCoy said. "It's been going real good for me. I made a few plays and I felt real good. I was like, 'OK, it's ball again.'"
Coach Klint Kubiak is taking a more practical approach to what McCoy is doing, which was part of his list of who will be participating against Arizona and to what degree they'll be able to go.
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"He's been practicing almost every day we've been out there, so we expect him to play," Kubiak said. "We expect him to compete, and look forward to watching him play."
Kubiak is also about the work that McCoy has put in, which has been substantial. He's spent hours behind the scenes getting ready for this, and his coach isn't unappreciative.
"It's all about how we practice," Kubiak said. "We're not gonna ask him to do anything different in the game that he hasn't done in practice. I'm really excited for him. He's worked his tail off to get to this moment. (We'll) just let him be himself. He'll be the best version of himself on Thursday night."
There will always be some amount of uncertainty surrounding McCoy that will be more than that for most NFL players, and he appreciates that as well. He's been working under staff wellness coordinator Alex Guerrero, and his rehab has been laid out on a step-by-step basis.
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"From the day I came in until now, just the way I feel is just so much better," McCoy said. "(Guerrero), all the guys in there, I just feel like they've been pouring into me. They done got me right."
McCoy now has a chip on his shoulder about all of this, and that's nothing new.
"That's something that will be with me forever," McCoy said. "I'm always gonna remember it. It's gonna keep fueling me to push forward."
