NFL Injury News: Oakland Raiders Quarterback Hunt Gets Scary

Oakland Raiders quarterback Jason Campbell broke his collarbone in the win over the Cleveland Browns this past Sunday. Browns linebacker Scott Fujita landed on top of Campbell's outstretched arm after the quarterback reached for a first down in the second quarter.

The early rumblings around the league were that the Raiders were working to acquire Cincinnati quarterback Carson Palmer. The calls to Browns owner Mike Brown have fallen on deaf ears. The Palmer/Brown dance shall go on.

The more realistic option for the Raiders is David Garrard. Well, it was.

Today, it was disclosed that Garrard will undergo back surgery for a herniated disc, as tweeted by Fox's Jay Glazer.

Garrard is no longer an option now that he has to go under the knife. A herniated disc surgery is debilitating, often leads to additional surgeries and will leave Garrard in a tremendous amount of pain. 

Just ask my mom. She had the same surgery and her back hasn't been the same since.

OK, my mom is no NFL quarterback—but neither is Raiders replacement Kyle Boller. And I'm pretty sure my mom can put up similar numbers to Boller's. Unfortunately for Oakland, my mom is signed through 2013 with her bratwurst business.

Oakland will have to look elsewhere—and fast.

St. Louis Rams head coach Steve Spagnuolo revealed today that quarterback Sam Bradford is in a walking boot as a result of suffering a high ankle sprain. The Rams will now turn the offense over to A.J. Feeley. 

It's hard to say which team is in the more desperate situation. 

Before being brought into the Raiders organization, Boller was beat out in Baltimore for the Ravens' backup job by Heisman Trophy winner Troy Smith, who is now playing in the UFL. Boller boasts poor decision-making skills and is wildly inaccurate.

A.J. Feeley is no prized pearl either. Feeley has a 55.7 percent career completion rate to go along with a 69.3 quarterback rating. In his 12-year career, Feeley has thrown for more interceptions (29) than touchdowns (27).

This preseason, Feeley kept up his mediocre tendencies with a 1:2 touchdown-to-interception ratio. His quarterback rating went to new depths, however, when he posted a 68.1 rating in the preseason.

Neither Boller nor Feeley are replacement options for the Raiders and Rams, respectively.  

Oakland doesn't have a second-, third- or fourth-round pick in the 2012 NFL draft. They don't have much to bargain with in a trade.

Oakland is not likely to find a suitor outside of their organization, and they don't need to look any further than their current roster.

Today, Terrelle Pryor was activated from the reserve/suspended list. 

In Pryor's career at Ohio State, he dominated. He led the Buckeyes to three Big Ten titles, two BCS bowl victories (Rose and Sugar bowls), gave Ohio State its first win over an SEC team in a bowl game and, most importantly, beat Michigan in three straight battles. 

Anyone who has watched Pryor play knows he answers the bell in the toughest of times. In order to stack up the noted accomplishments above, Pryor had to take control and deliver at a high level week in and week out. He did just that.  

Pryor can do the same in the NFL. By selecting Pryor in the third round of the NFL's 2011 supplemental draft, the late Al Davis saw in Pryor what the current coaching staff should see in him—the ability to win.

Oakland, here's your parting gift from the Great Al Davis. Use wisely.