Del Rio: ‘Not great news' about long snapper Condo's shoulder

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ALAMEDA – Raiders long snapper Jon Condo made a big-time hustle play Sunday against the Denver Broncos, and it may have cost him the rest of the season.

Condo recovered a muffed punt that set up the game-deciding touchdown in a 15-12 victory at Sports Authority Field, injuring his shoulder in the process. It popped out of socket, and he was in the locker room resetting the joint when Mychal Rivera scored the go-ahead touchdown. The Raiders controversially went for a two-point conversion without him available. Emergency backup Lee Smith still wears a brace after having wrist surgery a few weeks back.

Condo returned for two snaps later in the game, but head coach Jack Del Rio said the veteran long snapper might not return again this year.

“He had tests today, and we’ll see where we go from here,” Del Rio said. “…It’s not great news coming back. We’ll see how it goes. There is a strong likelihood that we’ll have to make a move to bring another guy in.”

If the Raiders sign a long-snapping specialist off the street, it seems likely Condo would move to season-ending injured reserve with just three games remaining.

[RELATED: Condo unavailable when Raiders went for 2-point conversion]

It would break a streak of 141 consecutive games played for the two-time Pro Bowler. Condo got hurt during the 2012 season opener against San Diego, which set off a comedy of errors with a backup long snapper.

Condo played the next week, though the Raiders carried an extra long snapper on the roster the following week. That was Week 2 of that season.

Condo’s shoulder was in a sling following Sunday’s victory.

NOTES
Right tackle Austin Howard suffered a knee injury in the third quarter and did not return. Del Rio said Howard is day-to-day while rehabbing the ailment. Khalif Barnes stepped in for Howard against Denver. … While Khalil Mack gets significant credit for a five-sack second half, Del Rio also praised Mario Edwards Jr. and Denico Autry for collapsing the pocket consistently.

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