Ten Raiders to miss practice all week
The Raiders have already had to practice for a week without their entire offensive line, and the result was a one-sided loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Now with a rematch coming up Sunday night with the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, they’ll be practicing without 10 defensive players.
Safety Johnathan Abram, defensive tackle Maliek Collins, defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins, defensive end David Irving, cornerback Isaiah Johnson, defensive end Arden Key and defensive tackle Kendal Vickers were placed on the COVID-19 reserve list Wednesday. Those seven players join defensive end Clelin Ferrell, slot corner Lamarcus Joyner, linebacker Cory Littleton and tackle Trent Brown — bringing the total number of Raiders players on the COVID-19 list to 11.
Ferrell and Brown aren’t expected to face the Chiefs Sunday night at Allegiant Stadium. Ferrell has reportedly tested positive and Brown is recovering from complications from having the coronavirus earlier this season. Littleton’s status is not known.The rest could be available provided they pass their daily COVID-19 tests. Joyner, who went onto the list Tuesday, could be cleared Saturday, while Abram, Collins, Hankins, Irving, Johnson, Key and Vickers in theory could be cleared Sunday by continuing to test negative.
Players under quarantine will participate in “virtual” practices and meetings on computer but will not be with the team.
The news broke while coach Jon Gruden was on his teleconference, so media members did not ask him about it. However, Kansas City media had gotten word of the report before their conference call with Gru
den.
Asked about losing his defense for the week, Gruden said, “I don’t know about the whole defense. I’m not going to get into what list anybody is on. We practiced today and we’ll be ready for the game on Sunday.”
While Gruden responded to media questions about injured players, he didn’t answer questions regarding players on the COVID-19 list.
Ferrell, who reportedly has tested positive along with Littleton, reached out to Raiders fans Tuesday on Instagram:
“I’M DOING OK. THANK YOU TO EVERYBODY WHO REACHED OUT!!! (expletive) HURTS BUT WE GOT BIGGER GOALS THAN ONE GAME!! LOVE YOU RAIDER NATION!!”
Ferrell had one of his best games of the season in the first game against the Chiefs, which the
Raiders won 42-30 at Arrowhead Stadium. It is Kansas City’s lone defeat this season.
“It’s definitely something we have to deal with,” wide receiver Hunter Renfrow said. ‘It’s just a revolving door and you never know. Hopefully everyone’s safe. But it’s interesting to see who’s going to step up. That’s the biggest thing. I think that’s something you can take from this. You have backups that have been able to get time so it can be a positive.”
At first glance, the situation is not as dire as it was going into the Tampa Bay game even with the number of players missing practice.
The offensive line, more than any other unit, needs practice time together to operate as a unit.
Defense is more reactive in nature and more prone to substitutions.
As it stands, the Raiders could still field a defense at practice with Maxx Crosby, Maurice Hurst, Daniel Ross and Carl Nassib on the defensive line, Nick Kwiatkoski and Nicholas Morrow at linebacker,
Nevin Lawson at slot corner, Trayvon Mullen and Damon Arnette at cornerback and Jeff Heath and Erik Harris at safety, with the seven additional players still involved in the game plan and potentially available to face the Chiefs.
Still, considering the Raiders are playing the most explosive offensive team in the NFL, missing 10 defensive players is problematic in terms of practice and preparation.
Coming out of the bye week, right tackle Brown tested positive and the rest of the starting offensive line was placed on the COVID-19 reserve list under quarantine. All except Brown were cleared to play but without having practiced. The Raiders lost 45-20 and have since gone on a three-game winning streak.
The news comes as the NFL announced it would enforce intensive protocols for the remainder of the season for all 32 teams beginning Saturday. Those protocols include wearing masks at all times, even on the practice field, and virtual meetings done by teleconference.