Unsung Smith facing surgery
Versatile tight end suffered lower leg injury that likely will cost him the season
ALAMEDA — The Raiders’ big win over the Baltimore Ravens came at a significant cost.
Tight end Lee Smith is facing surgery and will likely be placed on injured remainder of the season, Raiders coach Jack Del Rio said Monday, a day after a 28-27 win in Baltimore.
Del Rio wasn’t specific about the injury, although both NFL Media and ESPN reported it as a lower leg fracture.
Smith, 6-foot-6 and 258
pounds, was injured catching a pass Sunday, but his primary role was that of an in-line blocker and enforcer.
In his second season with the Raiders after signing as a free agent, Smith endeared himself teammates and coaches with his willingness to mix it up.
Following the 2014 season, Smith signed a threeyear, $9.1 million contract with the Raiders during free agency as part of general manager Reggie McKenzie’s plan to bring tough, physical players into the fold.
Before his injury, Smith had six receptions for 29 yards and had played 116 snaps — second to Clive Walford (128 snaps) at the position. His last catch went for a 1-yard gain, and he needed to be helped off the field by quarterback Derek Carr and running back Latavius Murray.
“It will take several people in all likelihood to fill his shoes because of all that he did,” Del Rio said. “Mainly the dirty work, the blocking, the unsung-hero kind of role. Very tough, very determined. We’ll miss him for sure.”
Smith was such a good blocker that he when two tackles went down in Week 1, he was nearly pressed into duty at that position.
Neither Walford nor Mychal Rivera, the other two tight ends on the roster, are suited for Smith’s role. The Raiders will consider promoting Ryan O’Malley, a 6-foot-6, 260-pound tight on the practice squad, as part of the solution.
Another part of the equation is utilizing an offensive tackle such as Austin Howard, Matt McCants or Menelik Watson as a tight end in power situations.
“We’ll design around everything we need to design around,” Del Rio said. “We won’t ask anyone to do anything they’re not capable of doing.”
The Raiders struggled to run the ball against Baltimore as Smith was out after playing 11 snaps. Going into the Ravens game, the Raiders were ranked second in the NFL in rushing at 148.3 yards per game.
“He’s a vital piece of it for sure,” Del Rio said. “We’ve got smart coaches. We’ve got players that adapt.”
Also facing the possibility of season-ending injured reserve was reserve linebacker and special teams player Ben Heeney, who came out of the Ravens win with an ankle injury.
Del Rio said he is struggling n to understand what is and what is not worthy of a holding call.
Rookie right tackle Vadal Alexander was called for holding three times.
“Vadal played really well,” Del Rio said. “Those holding calls ... there were a couple that were called on him where it was really tough to see any kind of holding going on there. I know that Khalil (Mack) would love to see all those types of things get called every time he’s held.”
Del Rio often talks n about the need for offense, defense and special teams to play interlocking roles, with each unit benefiting the other. It happened in textbook fashion on the Raiders’ first touchdown.
Marquette King punted the Ravens to the 5, the defense had a three-and-out, Jalen Richard returned a punt 47 yards to the 6 and Carr then threw a 6-yard touchdown pass to Seth Roberts.
“That’s exactly what we’re talking about, all three phases impacting the game,” Del Rio said. “That’s a great example of it.”
Del Rio said King, who n pinned the Ravens inside the 20 four-times, two of them inside the 10, had his best game. So much so that he’s willing to allow King’s post-punt dance as a homage to former Ravens star Ray Lewis.
“It’s 2016, there’s new ways of celebrating,” Del Rio said. “I like guys to be themselves and express themselves. He certainly is an expressive young man. When you kick that well, you can have a little fun out there as well.”
Former Raiders quarterback n Rich Gannon, a CBS analyst, said on the network’s Monday Morning QB show of Carr: “He’s playing terrific football. I know it’s premature to start discussing MVP candidates, but this guy has to be right up there.”