Raiders’ corner Arnette could be headed to IR
Cornerback Damon Arnette could be on the shelf as the Raiders are considering placing the rookie on injured reserve after re-injuring his thumb against the New England Patriots.
The rookie first-round draft pick from Ohio State will get additional tests, a team source said Tuesday, and it “looks like” injured reserve will be required. If that happens, Arnette would miss a minimum of three games — Buffalo, Kansas City and Tampa Bay on Oct. 25 following the bye.
The news was first reported by the NFL Network.
Arnette has been a starter since he arrived. He played with a cast on his right hand through training camp and through the first two games of the season.
Against New England, Arnette bent his right hand backward awkwardly while needing to steady himself and temporarily left the field in what appeared to be considerable pain. He returned and wound up playing 52 snaps, second to Trayvon Mullen’s 55 among cornerbacks. Arnette has missed a series or two in each game but has always returned to finish. During a Zoom interview last week, Arnette described playing with the break as like stubbing a toe and said he occasionally needed a break before going back in to the game.
Depending on how Henry Ruggs III is coming along with a hamstring strain, the Raiders could be without both of their first- round draft picks Sunday against the Buffalo Bills. Also up in the air is the status of Bryan Edwards, a third-round pick and a starter who hurt his foot after making a catch against New England.
With Arnette out, corners in line for more work include veteran Nevin Lawson (36 snaps against New England), and second- year player Isaiah Johnson (active but no
snaps on defense). Also available are Keisan Nixon, who has been used primarily on special teams, and fourth-round draft pick Amik Robertson of Louisiana Tech, who was inactive in each of the first three games.
R a iders coa ch Jon Gruden talked about the rash of injuries following the Patriots game.
“I mean, it’s hard, no doubt,” Gruden said. “We lost Bryan Edwards. We’ve already lost Tyrell Williams. We lost Ruggs, two right tackles and our left guard. Our middle linebacker. We’re in our (third) game. You start to wonder what the hell’s going on. This is the NFL. It’s for mentally tough men. We’re all professionals. We’re all paid. If we need the young guys to step up, so be it.”
The Raiders are hopeful of getting starting right tackle Trent Brown (calf) and middle linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski (pectoral) back against Buffalo, although it’s far from a certainty. Both were kept on the 53-man roster rather than being placed on injured reserve after the opener, an indication the Raiders thought a Week 4 return was possible.
One less option for the Raiders is cornerback Madre Harper, who reverted to the practice squad and was signed by the New York Giants.