Brown, Ruggs back on field with Chiefs up next
Raiders still thin at tackle with Collins, Hurst out
Right tackle Trent Brown and rookie wide receiver Henry Ruggs III took the first step toward returning to action by being available to practice Wednesday as the Raiders prepared to face the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs.
Brown, the Raiders’ right tackle, battled a calf injury through an abbreviated training camp and then reinjured it three snaps into the regular season opener against the Carolina Panthers. Ruggs, the
No. 12 overall pick in the draft, had a knee injury in the opener, but came out a Week 2 win over New Orleans with a hamstring strain and hasn’t been seen on the field since.
Raiders coach Jon
Gruden stopped well short of proclaiming the two key offensive pieces ready to play, but was encouraged to see them on the practice field.
Both were listed as having limited participation.
“We’ve been working Trent for a long time. He wouldn’t be out there practicing if he wasn’t close to being ready,” Gruden said during a video conference. “He’s missed a lot of time. Ruggs is a rookie who had no spring practice and he’s missed a lot of time. I don’t know if they’re going to play this week or not but it’s good to have ’em back on the field.”
The news at defensive tackle wasn’t as optimistic. Maliek Collins, who left after 25 snaps with a shoulder injury against Buffalo and did not return, did not practice. Collins was also listed with an illness aside from his shoulder problem.
With Maurice Hurst placed on the COVID-19 lost Tuesday and Daniel Ross on injured reserve, it left only Johnathan Hankins practicing as part of the rotation at tackle. Hankins was limited with an eye injury. Defensive ends Clelin Ferrell and Kendal Vickers have both played inside and could see extended duty at tackle against Kansas City depending on who is available.
Wide receiver Bryan Edwards, who missed the Bills game with an ankle injury, was also unavailable and could miss the Chiefs game.
Brown, 6-foot-8 and 380 pounds, has played just those three snaps against Carolina in the Raiders nine games dating back to last season. Brown signed a four-year contract worth a maximum of $66 million before the 2019 season. He played well enough to earn a Pro Bowl berth despite missing the last five games with a pectoral injury.
Veteran Sam Young originally stepped in for Brown against the Panthers, but left with a groin injury with Denzelle Good moving from swing guard to right tackle. Good stayed there until a Week 4 against Buffalo, with Young returning to action and Good moving
to left guard where Richie Incognito is on injured reserve.
With Ruggs out, veterans Nelson Agholor and Zay Jones got more work over the past two games.
What the Raiders medical staff will have to determine is the risk of re-injury and if another game sitting out would be beneficial considering there is a bye after the Chiefs game before the Raiders host Tampa Bay on Oct. 25.
Gruden said the Raiders would do the responsible thing, and chances are if Brown can’t begin to ramp it up during practice Thursday and Friday, he won’t play.
“He has missed time, and you’ve got to practice this game no matter what anybody says,” Gruden said.
Gruden would love to trot out Ruggs in Kansas City,
given that the Alabama product was touted as being the Raiders’ version of Chiefs explosive wideout Tyreek Hill.
Against Carolina, Ruggs caught a 45-yard pass for his first reception and was featured in the game plan, catching three passes for 55 yards and running twice from scrimmage for 11 more before injuring his knee. Although Ruggs played in the second half, he wasn’t targeted for a pass and have a rushing attempt.
Against New Orleans in Week 2, Ruggs caught one pass for four yards and drew a key pass interference penalty on a deep route late in the game.
“I know they’re excited, hoping to get a chance to play,” quarterback Derek Carr said. “And if we get them back, we’ll be excited.”