Chigozie Anusiem was carted off with a leg injury midway through the third quarter of Thursday night’s preseason game against the Texans, ending a difficult moment for the Raiders cornerback.
The injury came during a preseason game in which Anusiem was again involved on special teams, the area where he had seen his previous Raiders work. Last season, he played 54 special teams snaps in three games, so any extended absence would be felt most directly in that part of the roster.
How the injury happened
Anusiem was dragged down from behind on the punt team before leaving the field on a cart with a vacuum splint on his leg. The Raiders did not get a prolonged look at their special teams contributor before the night was interrupted by the injury.
The timing makes the setback especially disappointing. It happened in the third quarter, with the preseason game still in progress and the Raiders still sorting out roles and depth.
What it means for the Raiders
For a player whose recent Raiders usage was tied to special teams, the immediate concern is whether the injury will cost him valuable preseason time and affect the unit’s continuity. Those are the kinds of jobs that are often built on repetition, and injuries can quickly change the picture.
There is no way to read too much beyond the basic facts: Anusiem went down, was carted off, and was left with a leg injury after the play. For the Raiders, that is enough to create concern, particularly with the preseason still offering a final chance for players to make a case.
The next steps will be determined by the severity of the injury, but Thursday night’s scene was a stark reminder that roster battles can change in an instant.
