Brown placed on COVID-19 list.
The strange nature of playing football amid the coronavirus pandemic hit home for Raiders quarterback Derek Carr on Wednesday as he lined up at practice without any of his starting offensive linemen.
When right tackle Trent Brown was placed on the COVID-19 reserve list and went into isolation, the rest of the starting
offensive line was sent home, too, as preparations began for Sunday’s game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Allegiant Stadium.
Center Rodney Hudson, guards Gabe Jackson and Denzelle Good and left tackle Kolton Miller were listed as non-participants in practice. Safety Johnathan Abram also missed practice — all five absences were identified as non-injury related.
“We’ve seen a lot of weird things around here in my seven years, but this definitely up there with some of the weirdest things I’ve seen,” Carr said Wednesday.
Brown, who went wire-to-wire in the Raiders’ win over the Kansas City Chiefs heading in to the bye week, was subject to daily tests throughout the bye week and practiced with his teammates Monday
before a mandatory players’ day off. None of the other five players sent home were placed on the COVID-19 list.
The list is for players who either test positive for COVID-19 or have been in “close contact” with someone who is infected. The team has not specified whether Brown tested positive.
Sending home the other linemen and Abram is likely for purposes of contract tracing to determine if they were exposed. Head coach Jon Gruden was not willing to rule out Brown or anybody else until he has more information.
“We’re listening to the league and they’re advising us on what to do,” Gruden said. “Trent Brown is not here today. His status is unknown. We had to send five of our starting linemen home today. I guess they were around Trent, I can’t get in to things any more than that. Hopefully we’ll get some players back tomorrow or for Sunday.”
Brown is the second player to go on the COVID-19 reserve list in three days, joining cornerback Damon Arnette. Arnette is also on injured reserve following thumb surgery. Defensive tackle Maurice Hurst, who missed the Chiefs game, spent 13 days on the COVID-19 list and was reinstated to the roster Monday.
Since it’s not clear if Brown has the virus or simply was exposed to it, there’s no way to determine his length of absence. If Brown was around someone that had the virus but tests negative, he could be cleared after a second negative test.
If Brown has the virus and is asymptomatic, it gets more complicated. Brown would need to have 10 days past since a positive test or five days since the original test followed by two negative tests separated by 24 hours. He would also have to receive a final medical approval.
And if Brown has symptoms, he can’t play until he’s gone 10 days without symptoms, including a 72-hour
period since the last symptom occurred.
Linemen who were available for practice Wednesday included guard/center Andre James, tackle Sam Young, tackle Brandon Parker, guard John Simpson and guard Patrick Omameh. Linemen on the practice squad include Jaryd JonesSmith, Eric Magnuson and tackle Kamaal Seymour.
“I’m concerned. I’m really more concerned about Trent’s health than anything,” Gruden said. “This is COVID. I’m concerned about anybody that has it or is near it.”
Carr said players have been “brainwashed” by an NFL culture which stresses the “next man up” mentality to put aside injury and illness.
“Whoever is out there, that’s who’s out there,” Carr said. “Nobody cares about this or that. They just see the win and the loss, and that’s all that matters in this business. You feel bad for those guys, want to make sure they’re OK and their families are OK. But we have a job to do while we’re here. You have to compartmentalize a little bit.”
Safety Jeff Heath stressed that the Raiders are going through what every other team and every other person in the country is dealing with as well.
“It’s not easy on anybody, but that’s why you have a team with 53 guys and why they expanded practice squad this year,” Heath said. “Whoever is available for the game, that’s who we’re going to play with.
“When you leave the building it takes a little bit more discipline. This virus isn’t going away anytime soon and we have to make sure we stay on top of it and we’re really diligent with all the protocols.”
IRVING’S FIRST PRACTICE >> The Raiders got their first look at defensive end David Irving in an actual practice Wednesday and coach Jon Gruden wasn’t inclined to make any predictions about a future role on the 53-man roster.
A 6-foot-7, 290- pound edge player, Irving was signed Tuesday to the Raiders’ practice squad just two days after being reinstated by the NFL for being in vi
olation of the league’s policy on substances of abuse.
Irving last played for the Dallas Cowboys in 2018, when he went on indefinite suspension after two games. Irving later said his suspension was for marijuana use and he was critical of the league’s position in that regard.
Since Irving’s suspension, the NFL reduced its frequency of marijuana testing pre-season only as well as increasing the nanograms necessary for a positive test.
The bottom line for the Raiders is Irving, 27, had 12 1/2 sacks as a part-time player in 2015-18, and has familiarity with defensive line coach Rod Marinelli. It comes at a time where Irving is seeking redemption.
Gruden said he wasn’t sure what the Raiders were getting Monday during a video conference.
“We’re just excited to have an opportunity to help him rejuvenate his career,” Gruden said. “We’re going to help dust him off, and we’re going to see where he is. I don’t make any predictions. He’s not been in football for some time. I’m looking forward to putting him in silver and black and seeing what happens. He has a resume, but nothing recent.” FORMER RAIDER DIES AT 35 >> Mario Henderson, a former Raiders tackle who started 28 games between 2008 and 2010, has died at age 35, according to a Florida high school coach and former high school teammate.
“On behalf of the Lehigh Football Program I would like to extend my condolences to the family of our Brother, Lehigh Lightning & Florida State Seminole GREAT, Mr. Mario Henderson!” Lehigh High School coach James Chaney posted on his Twitter account.
The details surrounding his death were not immediately known. Henderson was to turn 36 on Oct. 29.
The NFL Players Association, through its former players services, issued a statement on Henderson’s passing:
“We are deeply saddened to hear of the passing of Mario Henderson. Our thoughts and prayers go out to his family and friends during this difficult time. Rest In Peace.”