Terrelle Pryor’s Injury Gives Raiders Perfect Chance to Showcase Matt Flynn

Oakland Raiders quarterback Terrelle Pryor suffered a concussion after receiving a monster hit from Denver Broncos linebacker Wesley Woodyard during Monday Night Football. The hit left Pryor angry. During an interview with ESPN, the quarterback said, "I think he should get fined, definitely."

Aside from leaving him angry, the hit also left Pryor sidelined.



Matt Flynn has taken the first-team reps this week during practice, according to Scott Bair of CSN Bay Area. Pryor has been progressing, but it is still uncertain whether he will be able to suit up on Sunday—he needs to undergo one more round of tests before he is cleared to take contact.

If Pryor is unable to go this week against the Washington Redskins, Flynn would be in line to start.

This gives the Raiders a golden opportunity to showcase Flynn in order to draw interest from potential trade partners.

Unloading Flynn to a quarterback-needy team would give the Raiders immediate salary-cap relief. According to Spotrac.com, Flynn is scheduled to make $7.625 million in 2014—a hefty salary for a backup quarterback.

Currently, Flynn is expendable due to the support that third-string quarterback Matt McGloin has received since he entered the league as an undrafted free agent out of Penn State. NFL.com reported before the season began that there were people within the Raiders organization who felt McGloin would give the Raiders the best chance to win.

That same report also stated that Oakland still wanted to see what it had in Pryor—Al Davis' final draft pick—before making its next move. With glowing praise for McGloin and genuine interest in Pryor, Flynn is certainly the odd man out.



The last time Flynn was given a chance to start a game during the regular season was in 2011 when he was with the Green Bay Packers. Flynn attempted 44 passes, completing 31 for ...