Raiders’ COVID-19 list clear, but Collins hits IR
The Raiders are free of COVID-19 for the moment, but that doesn’t mean they’re healthy.
Right tackle Trent Brown, slot cornerback Lamarcus Joyner and practice squad running back Theo Riddick all came off the COVID-19 reserve list Wednesday, making it the first
time in nearly a month the Raiders had no player who was unavailable because they either had the virus or were on the list for contact tracing purposes.
The injury report, however, was a lengthy one, and includes defensive tackle Maliek Collins going on injured reserve, according to coach Jon Gruden.
Ten players did not participate, eight due to injury, and all of them are either starters or have had extensive playing time: running back Josh Jacobs (ankle), safety Johnathan Abram ( knee), wide receiver Nelson Agholor (ankle), cornerback Damon Arnette (concussion), Collins ( hamstring/ ankle), defensive tackle Maurice Hurst (ankle/calf), guard Denzelle Good (ankle) and linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski (ankle).
It remains to be seen which players will be available for the Raiders’ Week 13 game Sunday on the road against the winless New York Jets.
Center Rodney Hudson and right guard Gabe Jackson also did not participate, but it was their day off as part of their normal routine as veteran players.
Collins, an offseason signing at defensive tackle, won’t be available in the best case scenario until the final two games of the season. Collins has been listed with a shoulder injury and Wednesday’s list had him with hamstring and ankle issues.
Cited in training camp as a “key to the defense” by Gruden and defensive coordinator Paul Guenther after signing a oneyear contract, Collins has been a non-factor. In 10 starts and 432 snaps, Collins has had no more than three tackles in any game and has no sacks or tackles for losses.
Collins, who played in Dallas under Raiders current line coach Rod Marinelli, signed a one-year contract worth $6 million with an eye toward having a big year and getting a multi-year deal with the Raiders or elsewhere next season.
“I’m not going to get into the injury,” Gruden said. “I just know that he’s had some shoulder problems, he’s had a number of issues, and we’re going to shut him down for a few weeks, try get him right and hopefully have him at some point before the end of the season.”
If Collins were to miss the minimum three games, he would return to play against Miami in Week 16 and Denver in the regularseason finale.
Being without Collins would ideally give Hurst more time as the threetechnique tackle, but the third year player was unable to practice. Hurst played 16 snaps against Atlanta af ter missing the three previous days due to injury and a stint on the COV ID - 19 re - serve list. Available interior linemen at the moment include Johnathan Hankins, Kendal Vickers and Daniel Ross with Ferrell also able to move inside. They also have Chris Smith on the practice squad.
“We’ll have to find some help from some place,” Gruden said. “If you know somebody, call me.”
Players who were limited at practice were fullback Alec Ingold (ribs), safety Erik Harris (calf) and tackle Sam Young ( knee).
The Raiders have had a player or players on the COVID-19 list since Nov. 5, the day Brown went on for the second time for complications resulting from his earlier bout with the virus. Over the next 28 days, 12 players would be on the list, with linebacker Cory Littleton, Ferrell and Joyner spending the most time and presumably testing positive, with eight others missing practice time for contact tracing.
Ferrell, who missed the Chiefs and Falcons games, was cleared to travel to Atlanta but didn’t play.
Brown went through some individual work but didn’t participate in team sessions, and Gruden reiterated he didn’t expect the right tackle to play against the Jets. Brown ha s not played since Week 5 when he went the distance against Kansas City.