The Oakland Raiders worked out veteran NFL safety Bernard Pollard on Friday, according to Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk. Pollard's workout likely came as a direct result of the pair of devastating injuries the Raiders suffered to their defensive secondary during the NFL's opening week. Against the Cincinnati Bengals, in what was an ultimately poor losing effort for Oakland, both starting safeties, Nate Allen and Charles Woodson, went down with injuries. Allen is done for at least a couple of weeks after tearing his MCL and Woodson was presumed to be done for a week or two as well after dislocating his shoulder.
Pollard, 30, last played for the Tennessee Titans. A former second-round pick of the Kansas City Chiefs, Pollard has appeared in regular season games for the Chiefs, Houston Texans, Baltimore Ravens and Titans. Last year for Tennessee, the big-hitting Pollard appeared in just five games, managing only 27 tackles, one sack and one pass defensed.
At this point in his career, what limited cover skills Pollard possessed have likely diminished to a very low level. He's a heady veteran player who has produced for some talented teams, but he's simply not a guy you can depend on at this point.
As a stop-gap, short-term answer however, he may be a very good fit.
