Oakland Raiders head coach Jon Gruden confirmed during Monday’s practice that rookie tight end Foster Moreau will miss the remainder of the season with a knee injury that he suffered during the team’s Week 14 loss to the Tennessee Titans.
Moreau came down awkwardly on the knee after making a catch near the sidelines in the third quarter and was quickly ruled out for the rest of the game. While the Raiders have not revealed what his official diagnosis is, the hope is that he will be healthy by the start of the 2020 season.
The Raiders drafted Moreau in the fourth round out of LSU in 2019 and he has been a part of a rookie class that has opened a lot of eyes this year. Serving as a primary backup to Darren Waller, Moreau had 21 catches for 174 yards in 13 games this season. He was one of the most reliable red-zone targets for Derek Carr, catching five touchdown passes, including one in the loss to the Titans.
The loss dropped Oakland to 6-7 on the season, likely ending any chances they had at reaching the postseason after falling in three straight contests.
With Moreau no longer in the mix, Derek Carrier will likely see increased playing time behind Waller and also in two tight-end sets. Considering the postseason seems to no longer be an option, it would not be surprising to see the Raiders be cautious with their best young players like Waller to ensure there are no more significant injuries to finish out the season.
In addition to Moreau, the Raiders have already lost key players like Johnathan Abram, Karl Joseph, Hunter Renfrow and others to significant injury.
