Oakland Raiders: Is Darren McFadden's Lisfranc Injury Really This Serious?

Oakland Raiders running back Darren McFadden was having breakout season and appeared finally to be living up to his billing as the fourth overall pick in the 2008 NFL Draft. He had racked up 614 yards and four touchdowns by the time he left Oakland's Week 7 blowout loss to the Chiefs with what was described as a "foot injury."

Immediately following the Chiefs game, McFadden was using crutches and protective boot. Raiders coach Hue Jackson informed the media that x-rays on the right foot were negative, and the prognosis was that since the injury was a sprain, McFadden would rest during the team's upcoming bye week and hopefully be fresh the following week.

That was more than six weeks ago.

In the subsequent weeks, Jackson has teased us with phrases like "huge progress," making it sound as if the injury really was just an ordinary sprained foot. Obviously, it hasn't been that simple.

In recent weeks, it came to light that McFadden has what is known as a Lisfranc Sprain. When the term was announced, the initial reaction was that it doesn't sound good. Injuries that have their own personal names generally aren't—especially for star running backs.

Now, as we head into the must-win matchup against the Detroit Lions, McFadden is still not on the field.

So, what's the problem? The Raiders have insisted that the foot is not broken, and the tone around the team is that he could be back "any day now." So, why has it taken so long? Does McFadden have a more serious injury than the team is admitting? Is he just taking his time coming back?

The answer may be that a Lisfranc injury is a serious one that is not only difficult to treat, but is often misdiagnosed. According to the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons,

"A Lisfranc injury is often mistaken for a simple sprain, especially if the injury is a result of a straightforward twist and fall. However, injury to the Lisfranc joint is not a simple sprain that should be simply "walked off." It is a severe injury that may take many months to heal and may require surgery to treat."

Reading through the case studies on Lisfranc injuries, it is pretty obvious that McFadden has a serious injury that will probably take months to heal. Jackson told the media that, knowing what he knows now,  in hindsight, he might have handled things differently.

Unfortunately, hindsight is 20/20, and the Raiders find themselves with three must-win games in a row and their star running back nowhere to be found.