If Derek Carr is injured in Pro Bowl Raiders could be on the hook for full 2023 salary

Here’s a situation the Raiders undoubtedly did NOT see coming when they benched Derek Carr with two games left in the season.

So, this morning Carr was named to the Pro Bowl. The AFC had gone through seven quarterbacks before they got to Carr, but here we are.

The Raiders cut him to avoid the possibility of him getting injured and thus guaranteeing his $35 million salary for next season plus $7.5 million of his 2024 salary. Now they are faced with Carr taking the field again anyway, even if it is a flag football game. And that appears to be enough.

This puts the Raiders in a precarious position. They had hoped to have until February 15 to try and work out a trade. But now they may not be able to wait that long.

The Pro Bowl is this weekend. Could the Raiders eliminate the risk of Carr injuring himself in the Pro Bowl and cut him before then? Or do they take the chance and hope he comes through unscathed so they can still find a trade partner to avoid Carr being cut loose no compensation.

Risky proposition. We’ll soon see.

Story originally appeared on Raiders Wire