Raiders QB Jimmy Garoppolo Suffers Injury vs. Steelers

LAS VEGAS — Raiders quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo suffered a potential concussion against the Steelers on Sunday night, head coach Josh McDaniels said to the media. Garoppolo got dinged in the first half with a potential ankle injury but got injured later on one of the numerous hits he took throughout the game. The Steelers sacked Garappolo four times over the night while pressuring him several more times.

While there is no definite hit Jimmy Garoppolo suffered the potential concussion on, Minkah Fitzpatrick’s roughing the passer penalty comes to mind. After the hit, Garoppolo lay on the ground for numerous seconds, potentially linking the injury to that. However, the Steelers were baffled at the penalty after the game.

The play caught lots of controversy, but the idea remained simple for Minkah Fitzpatrick — he did nothing wrong. The explanation that Fitzpatrick received from the refs was even more perplexing. Fitzpatrick had a simple one-word response when asked if he thought it was a penalty.

“No.”

When pushed for an explanation of what the refs told him, Fitzpatrick said it was about how he ducked his head into Garappolo when Garappolo braced for contact and lowered his head, thus initiating contact of a helmet-to-helmet hit.

“They said he ducked,” Fitzpatrick said. “They said I hit him in his head, and he ducked. That’s what they told me.”

Garoppolo finished the night with three interceptions, including a game-ending interception to Levi Wallace. While star receiver Davante Adams had another monster night, the team could not round together enough of an overall effort to close out the game for a victory. If Garappolo has to miss time moving forward, Brian Hoyer will start for the Raiders. Pittsburgh moved to 2-1 after the game and now on a two-game winning streak following two straight wins against the Browns and Raiders.