Finale in Oakland would be ‘sad day’

Monday night game could be end of team’s Coliseum stay

With the possibility of Monday night against Denver marking the Raiders’ final game at the Oakland Coliseum, head coach Jon Gruden said he might wander toward the stands after the final whistle. “Why not?” Gruden said Saturday. “I mean, whether it’s the last game or not, I’ve got a lot of respect and thankfulness for our fans.”

The Raiders don’t yet have a home field for next season. The team withdrew from a tentative agreement to play 2019 home games at the Coliseum on Dec. 12, a day after Oakland filed a federal lawsuit against the Raiders over their move to Las Vegas in 2020.

Gruden said he tries “not to speculate” on where the Raiders will play next season, though he reiterated a desire to remain in Oakland for 2019.

“You have to hope that it works out,” Gruden said. “But if it is the last game, it’ll certainly be a sad day.”

Players have met the uncertainty in different ways. Running back Jalen Richard said he “hasn’t really thought about” Monday being a farewell to the 52-year-old Coliseum.

“We don’t even know what’s going on,” Richard said. “I’ve got a lot to worry about as far as just playing the game. But I definitely feel where the fans in this community are coming from. So it’s going to be tragic if it is the last game.”

Defensive tackle Justin Ellis said he’ll take a moment Monday night to “soak in” the atmosphere.

“We’ve had some good times — even when we weren’t playing too good, the fans still came out and supported us,” Ellis said. “So it’s bitter, leaving some of the best Raider fans in the world.

“You just give them your all, just in case it is the last one. That’s the goal every game, but give them a little extra. That’s the whole thing. Because this might be the last one.”

Gruden, who previously coached the Raiders from 1998 to 2001, said he still recognizes fans in the “Black Hole” section: “They remind me of my friends I hung out with at (the University of ) Dayton. … I appreciate them. And hopefully we can keep that spirit alive wherever we play.”

Despite their 3-11 record, Gruden said he believes the Raiders “have a lot to be thankful for.”

“We haven’t won many games,” he said. “But the people that know this football team, know what’s going on inside here, know there has been some really cool foundation that has been laid. And I think the fans appreciate the effort, and they know we appreciate them.”

Injury report: Left guard Kelechi Osemele is likely to play Monday after missing the past two games because of a toe injury.

“We’ll see if he had any setbacks, but he sure looks ready to go,” Gruden said.

Gareon Conley (concussion) and Daryl Worley (shoulder), the Raiders’ top cornerbacks, are questionable for Monday after being limited in practice Saturday. Defensive tackle Maurice Hurst (ankle) did not practice and is also questionable. Gruden said Hurst’s ankle is “not getting much better.”