The Oakland Raiders secondary suffered another major blow as safety Usama Young has been lost for the season with a torn ACL and MCL according to ESPN’s Bill Williamson:
#Raiders worst fears for safety Usama Young confirmed. He tore ACL/MCL according to source. Season is over.
— Bill Williamson (@BWilliamsonESPN) October 20, 2014
Young had taken over the starting role at strong safety after the Raiders lost Tyvon Branch in Week 3 to a broken foot. Now with this latest loss, a position of strength coming into this season is now a major question mark.
Branch and fellow veteran Charles Woodson were supposed to be the leaders of the defense, but now Woodson sits alone on the backend of a Raiders defense that has struggled with injuries all season.
Young had been a serviceable safety in Branch’s absence, but now, due to the severity of his injury, length of recovery process, and his cap hit if released, he will now be expected to fight for his spot on the team come next season.
Branch was expected to return to his old form this season after suffering a neck injury and a broken leg since his last full season in 2011. The Raiders signed him to a four-year deal in 2012 and hoped he would return and be one of the leaders of the secondary.
The Raiders are once again forced to start Brandian Ross, a corner-turned safety that took over the starting role last year as well.
