Asomugha sees a specialist

Cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha was taken to see a specialist regarding his injured left wrist and is all but certain to sit out the Raiders final preseason game. Could he miss the season-opener, too?

The Raiders are keeping an optimistic outlook but are holding their breath after cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha sat out practice Monday and was taken to see a specialist about his injured wrist. Asomugha hurt himself on the second play of Saturday’s preseason loss to New Orleans and did not play the remainder of the game.

Head coach Tom Cable said the team was awaiting results from Asomugha’s meeting and was unsure what course of action the Pro Bowl cornerback would take.

“We should have something tomorrow,” Cable said Monday. “(We) just want to make sure the chip is not displaced or anything like that.”

Asomugha could be fitted for a cast and still be able to play, which would be a best-case scenario. Cable also didn’t rule out surgery as a possibility, though it appears a longshot at this point.

“We don’t know that,” Cable said when asked about the possibility of surgery. “They're going this afternoon with a specialist to see exactly what the procedure will be. When I say procedure, I mean in terms of rehabbing it so we don't know anything it.”

If surgery is required, Asomugha would be in jeopardy of having to miss the team’s season-opener against San Diego on Sept. 14. Even if he avoids going under the knife, Asomugha could be sidelined up to three weeks.

Studies have shown that patients who suffer chip fractures need at least three weeks of total immobilization of the injured wrist, and that the total healing process can take as long as 6-8 weeks to complete.

Using that timetable, Asomugha might not be fully recovered until mid-October.