Buchanon Injury Adds to Raider Woes

Alameda -- One day after Oakland's bitter 27-21 overtime defeat at the hands of the San Diego Chargers, Raider Coach Bill Callahan said today that an even bigger loss occurred with the injury to rookie cornerback sensation Phillip Buchanon, who will need two months to recover from a fractured wrist.

"It seems as though it's going to be an 8 week rehabilitation process," said Callahan at a press conference today at Raider headquarters, adding that surgeons inserted two pins in Buchanon's wrist to stabilize it during his recovery.

Buchanon wasn't the only one to sustain a serious injury in Sunday's game. In the second half, running back Terry Kirby fractured his right leg and was ushered into surgery to repair a broken fibula and tibia. He will be out for the remainder of the 2002 season. "Kirby is still at Summit Hospital," said Callahan. "He stayed overnight and will stay the night again."

Despite the defeat, "I was really proud of the fact that our players did come back from a 14-0 deficit in the 2nd half," said Callahan. "I really felt that there was an instant there where we came back to 14-7."

But that instant was short lived. One of the most crucial mistakes made during Sunday's game goes back to a third down in the second half. Quarterback Rich Gannon found himself without enough time to make the third down conversion, causing the Raiders to take a chance on a field goal, which was missed. Even though Gannon had time to make a play, the Chargers kept the pressure high and closed in on him. "That really hurt," said Callahan about the play that he thinks cost the game.

With the Raiders recent losses and injuries, fans are starting to wonder if the team holds a realistic shot at the Super Bowl.Next weekend they will play against the Kansas City Chiefs. Although the Chiefs have lost their last two AFC West games, they are not to be an underestimated. Their losses were only by a combined four points.

Callahan said he was optimistic about the rest of the Raider season and thinks this weekend against Kansas City could really yield to his team's benefit.

The Raiders will not have a home field advantage this Sunday. They will play at Arrowhead Stadium, in Kansas City, whose fans make the stadium one of the noisiest places in the league.

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