Johnathan Abram left last Monday’s game with what was then believed to be a severe shoulder injury. Tom Pelissero has now confirmed that the Las Vegas Raiders safety has suffered an injured rotator cuff and labrum. This injury will bring an end to his 2021 NFL season. Abram has yet to miss a snap this season, so his loss will have a big impact on Las Vegas. He is expected to be fully healthy by the time the 2022 season comes around.
#Raiders safety Johnathan Abram will undergo season-ending shoulder surgery Thursday, per source. Abram hadn’t missed a snap prior to the injury and wanted to keep playing, but doctors advised him to shut it down. Will be fully healthy for 2022.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) December 22, 2021
Las Vegas Raiders Safety Johnathan Abram Has Season-Ending Shoulder Surgery
Abram is a player that has had his ups and downs since entering the league as a first-round draft pick. Jamal Adams-esque is the best way to describe the type of player Abram is. He is a box safety that attacks ball carriers like a missile but struggles in coverage. Abram is at his best when playing close to the line of scrimmage and defending the run.
On the season, Abram has recorded 116 combined tackles, 64 solo tackles, and five tackles for loss. He has also registered one interception, one fumble recovery, and three quarterback hits. Abram has yet to play a full season since entering the league in the 2019 NFL Draft. Because of this unfortunate injury, that will still sadly be the case. We might be witnessing yet another player that fails to reach his potential due to events outside of his control. Unfortunately, this happens way too often in the NFL.
This injury really dampens the chance of Las Vegas picking up Abram’s fifth-year option. This was even the case before this injury. Abram just has not played up to the status of a first-round draft pick. Younger and cheaper players like Tyree Gillespie will now have the chance to show they can take his place. Regardless of what happens, there is a good chance 2022 may be the last season Abram is in a Raiders uniform.
Main Photo:
Embed from Getty Images
