Las Vegas Raiders

The 2020 NFL season is being played during the middle of a global pandemic, but the Las Vegas Raiders are apparently on the verge of conquering COVID-19.

Or so says head coach Jon Gruden.

"As an organization, we are on the cutting edge of beating the virus," he said, per Vic Tafur of The Athletic. "We're not the only team in the league, so you know, that's had people catch the virus."

The Raiders have been involved in a number of COVID-19-related headlines throughout the season, including in September when Gruden revealed he had had the virus while apologizing for not wearing his mask correctly during a game against the New Orleans Saints.

"I'm doing my best," he said, per Paul Gutierrez of ESPN. "I've had the virus. I'm doing my best. I'm very sensitive about it...I'm calling plays. I just wanna communicate in these situations and if I get fined I'll have to pay the fine but I'm very sensitive about that and I apologize."

Gutierrez reported Gruden was fined $100,000 for not wearing his mask the correct way during that game, while the organization was fined $250,000.

What's more, quarterbacks Derek Carr and Nathan Peterman; tight ends Jason Witten, Foster Moreau and Derek Carrier; wide receivers Zay Jones and Hunter Renfrow; cornerback Nevin Lawson; and center Erik Magnuson were among the players who attended a charity event in September when players were photographed without masks.

More recently, all five starting offensive linemen and safety Johnathan Abram were placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list prior to Sunday's loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported the NFL and its players association are investigating the Raiders for COVID-19 issues, including whether the offensive linemen were spending time together without masks.

Tafur noted Gruden said he has not heard about potential penalties such as fines coming from the investigation.

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Jon Gruden is "livid" the team's Sunday game against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers wasn't postponed after his starting offensive line missed most of the week due to COVID-19 contact tracing protocols, according to Pro Football Talk's Mike Florio. 

All five of the Raiders' starting offensive linemen were forced to isolate at home due to potential exposure after right tackle Trent Brown tested positive for the virus. Kolton Miller, Rodney Hudson, Gabe Jackson and Denzelle Good were activated ahead of Sunday's game, according to ESPN's Field Yates.  

The players were able to practice Monday but weren't cleared to return until Saturday. A league spokesman explained Sunday that the game would play as scheduled since the Raiders were able to keep their facility open (h/t Pro Football Talk):

"As we’ve said since before the beginning of the season, we always try to play games as close to their scheduled time, date and location while keeping the health and safety of players and personnel as the foremost priority. There have been no additional positive tests among the Raiders who were able to keep their facility open and practice as a team. Roster flexibility is also in place with an increased number of practice squad players availability (16) and the ability to move them to [the] active [roster] as necessary. The Raiders close contacts are eligible to play today. Teams and players understand that strict adherence to the protocols is necessary to avoid outbreaks and disruptions of their schedule and season."

But Gruden believes the loss of an entire position group in practice should be enough to result in a game change. 

"Gruden believes the game should have been bumped to Monday or Tuesday night, giving him more time to get his linemen ready," Florio wrote, while also noting that the Buccaneers would not be inconvenienced by the change because they play next Monday night.

Fox Sports' Jay Glazer reported Sunday that the Raiders "will be fined very heavily" and face harsher punishment than the Tennessee Titans, who were assessed a $350,000 fine for "instances of failure to comply with requirements on wearing masks and insufficient clear communication" that resulted in 24 positive COVID-19 cases throughout the organization. 

The Raiders are considered repeat offenders after 10 players were fined for participating in an indoor charity event without masks, while Gruden was fined $100,000 and the team was hit with a $250,000 penalty for failure to follow mask requirements in September.

Tom Pelissero of NFL Network said the NFL and NFLPA are investigating the Raiders' positive cases and believe that Brown failed to wear his tracking device and that the offensive line gathered without masks. 

Las Vegas Raiders offensive linemen who had contact with right tackle Trent Brown have been activated off the team's reserve/COVID-19 list prior to a matchup against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday, per Ian Rapoport of NFL Network.

However, they still need to test negative following more COVID-19 tests before officially being cleared to play, per Mike Garafolo and Tom Pelissero of NFL Network:

The Raiders placed Brown on the reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday and sent their four remaining starting offensive linemen—left tackle Kolton Miller, left guard Denzelle Good, center Rodney Hudson, right guard Gabe Jackson—home after contract tracing, head coach Jon Gruden told reporters (h/t Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com).

Vic Tafur of The Athletic also provided an update Saturday:

The Raiders could have four of their five starting offensive linemen from their most recent game suiting up Sunday, but starting safety Johnathan Abram will not take part.

Per Rapoport, Abram is "listed as having contact" with Brown on Tuesday and therefore cannot be cleared before the team's 4:05 p.m. Sunday start.

Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal explained an extra layer of complication to the contact tracing process:

Brown has played six NFL seasons for the San Francisco 49ers, New England Patriots and Raiders. Injuries have limited him to 13 games with the Raiders since signing ahead of the 2019 season, including a calf ailment that kept him out for three weeks this season.

He'll miss a big matchup against the 4-2 Bucs, who come into Las Vegas on a high after crushing the previously undefeated Green Bay Packers 38-10 last Sunday.

The 3-2 Raiders are looking great themselves, however, after beating the defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs 40-32 in Week 5.

The NFL originally scheduled the game for Sunday Night Football, but after news of Brown's reserve/COVID-19 list placement, the league announced a switch "out of an abundance of caution to ensure that a game would be available for fans on Sunday Night Football."

The Seattle Seahawks at Arizona Cardinals game has replaced Tampa Bay at Las Vegas on SNF.

The Las Vegas Raiders returned no new positive COVID-19 tests Friday and are on track to play the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, the Raiders aren't "out of the woods," however, and will continue to be tested leading up to Sunday's game.

After placing starting right tackle Trent Brown on the reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday, the Raiders put five more players on the list Thursday: starting safety Johnathan Abram and the remaining offensive line starters in Rodney Hudson, Gabe Jackson, Denzelle Good and Kolton Miller.

The five players placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list were deemed high-risk contacts because of their proximity to Brown.

Brown broke NFL protocol by not wearing his proximity device at all times during team activities, and both he and his fellow starting offensive linemen were seen together without masks on the sidelines during practice, according to ESPN's Dianna Russini.

NFL Network's Tom Pelissero reported Thursday the NFL and NFLPA were investigating whether Brown and the Raiders properly followed protocol.

Abram and the four offensive linemen must quarantine for five days since their last day of contact with Brown, which was Monday. That means all five players could be cleared Sunday morning if they pass a point of care test.

The Raiders and Bucs were originally scheduled to play Sunday night, but to ensure there would be a night game in case it got postponed, the game was moved to 4:05 p.m. ET, and the Seattle Seahawks vs. Arizona Cardinals game was moved into the night slot.

If the offensive linemen who were placed on the COVID list by the Raiders are not cleared to play Sunday, then Vegas may be forced to play with an offensive line comprised entirely of backups.

Against a Buccaneers defense that ranks third in the NFL in sacks this season, the Raiders could use their starting O-line more than ever.

The Las Vegas Raiders have placed all five starting offensive linemen on the reserve/COVID-19 list along with safety Johnathan Abram.

After starting right tackle Trent Brown was placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Wednesday, left tackle Kolton Miller, left guard Denzelle Good, center Rodney Hudson and right guard Gabe Jackson each landed there Thursday.

All four were all deemed "high-risk contact" after Brown tested positive for COVID-19. They each were last in contact with Brown on Monday and will need to quarantine for five days since their last contact, providing a path to playing Sunday if they test negative.

As ESPN's Paul Gutierrez noted, the Raiders now have only five active offensive linemen on the 53-man roster and two on the practice squad, coming short of the eight minimum on a game day.

Las Vegas was scheduled to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday night, but kickoff has been moved to 4:05 p.m. ET, per ESPN's Adam Schefter. The Arizona Cardinals and Seattle Seahawks will take the spot in prime time.

"These decisions were made out of an abundance of caution to ensure that a game would be available for fans on Sunday Night Football," the league said in a statement. 

"We expect the Buccaneers-Raiders game to be played on Sunday afternoon. Scheduling decisions are made to ensure the health and safety of players, coaches and game day personnel and in consultation with medical experts."

The NFL and NFLPA have also been investigating the Raiders as to whether they have followed protocols, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network. The league believes players were spending time together without masks and that Brown wasn't always wearing his league-mandated tracking device.

Several Raiders players were previously fined for attending a September fundraiser where some players did not always wear a face covering inside a crowded indoor room.

The league has been forced this season to move two games to different weeks as a result of COVID-19 outbreaks involving the Tennessee Titans and New England Patriots. There have also been games delayed to Monday or Tuesday to help ensure players no longer tested positive.

With the Raiders dealing with significant uncertainty and limited practice time during the week, playing Sunday could be a difficult task.

The NFL and NFLPA are investigating Las Vegas Raiders offensive tackle Trent Brown after his positive COVID-19 test this week.

According to NFL Network's Tom Pelissero, the NFL and NFLPA believe Brown did not consistently wear his league-issued tracking device prior to the positive test. They are also looking into video of Brown hanging out with other Raiders offensive linemen while not wearing masks.

Raiders head coach Jon Gruden announced Wednesday that Brown had been placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list and that the rest of the team's starting offensive linemen had been sent home because of the fact that they were "around" Brown.

The 27-year-old Brown is in the midst of his second season with the Raiders after previously playing for the San Francisco 49ers and New England Patriots.

Brown, who is the Raiders' starting right tackle, was named to the Pro Bowl for the first time in his career last season.

In a season-opening win over the Carolina Panthers last month, Brown suffered a calf injury. He didn't return to action until last week when he started in Las Vegas' upset win over the Kansas City Chiefs.

Vegas is set to host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers on Sunday night football, but the team could be in trouble if any additional offensive linemen are unable to play.

Per ESPN's Paul Gutierrez, the offensive linemen who were sent home aside from Brown are eligible to return to the team facility Thursday as long as the COVID-19 tests they took Wednesday come back negative.

The tracking devices given to NFL players this season are called Proximity Recording Devices, and they are mandatory for players and coaches at the team facility, during practices and during travel.

They are key in determining the proximity between people, which aids in contact tracing after a player, coach or other personnel tests positive for COVID-19.

If Brown did not wear his Proximity Record Device, the Raiders could be subject to fines or other punishments by the NFL.

Assuming Brown is not able to play against the Bucs on Sunday night, the Raiders will likely either start veteran Sam Young at right tackle or move Denzelle Good from left guard to right tackle and slot rookie fourth-round pick John Simpson into the left guard spot.

Mario Henderson, who played offensive tackle for the Oakland Raiders from 2007 to 2010, has died at the age of 35.

The Raiders, who have since moved to Las Vegas, announced Henderson's passing on Wednesday.

"The Raiders Family is heavy hearted following the passing of Mario Henderson, who was a third-round draft pick and played four seasons with the Silver and Black. Everyone will miss Mario's sense of humor and passion for football and life. The prayers of the entire Raider Nation are with Mario's family and loved ones at this time."

No cause of death has been announced.

The New England Patriots picked Henderson 91st overall in 2007 but soon dealt him to the Raiders in a draft-day trade.

He played four seasons for the Silver and Black and started 28 of his 44 games. The ex-Florida State Seminole manned the starting left tackle spot for all 16 games in 2009.

He played at Lehigh Senior High School in Florida prior to his FSU tenure.

Numerous people offered their condolences and remembrances of Henderson on Twitter, including New York Giants kicker Graham Gano, the NFLPA Former Players organization and James Chaney, a former teammate of Henderson's who now coaches the Lehigh Senior High School football team:

Chaney also spoke to Fox 4:

"A lot of Florida State people are reaching out; a lot of local people are showing love. And Mario was just one of the nicest big 6'8" human beings that you can ever run across."

"And I'm really, really sad and along with thousands of others about the loss today."

Henderson also spent time in the San Diego Chargers' training camp and played on teams in the United Football League, Arena Football League and Indoor Football League.

Larry Gary, a near four-decade Lee County football coach who mentored Henderson, also offered his thoughts to Adam Regan of the Fort Myers News-Press.

"All of my insides hurt right now. It doesn't seem real. He was such a loving person. There's no better person I could be associated with."

Per Regan, Henderson was most recently working with special needs students at Dunbar High School (Florida) in addition to working as an assistant for the football team.

The Las Vegas Raiders placed offensive tackle Trent Brown on the NFL's reserve/COVID-19 list.

Tom Pelissero of NFL Network added that Raiders officials are performing contact tracing following the development. Head coach Jon Gruden told reporters the team had to send home all five starting offensive linemen as the result of contract tracing.

"I guess they were around Trent," Gruden said. "I can't get into things anymore than that."

Now, Vegas must wait and see to find out the status for Brown and the other linemen impacted.

"Hopefully we'll get some players back tomorrow for Sunday," Gruden added.

Of note, rookie cornerback Damon Arnette went on the reserve/COVID-19 list on Monday.

Going on the reserve/COVID-19 list doesn't itself serve as confirmation a player tested positive since it can also be used when a player had close contact with somebody who has the virus.

The Raiders had a bye in Week 6, so that will have limited how much Brown was around his teammates in recent days.

The 2019 Pro Bowler has appeared in just two games, and he was limited to three snaps in Las Vegas' season-opening victory over the Carolina Panthers. One day after that victory, Gruden didn't totally hide his feelings about Brown's prolonged issues with a calf injury. 

With Wednesday's news, his availability for the Raiders' Week 7 encounter with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers appears to be in serious doubt. Las Vegas hosts Tom Brady and the Bucs at 8:20 p.m. ET on Sunday.

Tampa Bay's defensive line ranks second in adjusted line yards and adjusted sack rate, per Football Outsiders. The team sacked Aaron Rodgers four times in a 38-10 win over the Green Bay Packers last week.

Assuming the Raiders are without Brown, it could be a long night for Derek Carr.

The Las Vegas Raiders will have more quarterback depth with Marcus Mariota set to return from injury this week. 

Per Albert Breer of The MMQB, the Raiders designated Mariota to return from the injured reserve Tuesday. 

Mariota was placed on injured reserve Sept. 7 with an undisclosed injury. NFL Network's Ian Rapoport reported the 2014 Heisman Trophy winner had been "severely limited" in practice due to a strained pec. 

The Raiders signed Mariota to a two-year deal worth $17.6 million in March. He told KHON-TV (h/t ESPN's Paul Gutierrez) after signing that the Raiders were still Derek Carr's team and he was looking "to be a part of a team that I felt could bring out the best in me."

Nathan Peterman has served as Carr's backup for Las Vegas' first five games of the season. Carr has taken all of the team's offensive snaps thus far. He leads the NFL with a 73.1 completion percentage, ranks sixth with 288.4 passing yards per game and is tied for eighth with 11 touchdowns. 

Mariota is in his first season with the Raiders after spending five years with the Tennessee Titans. The 26-year-old is 29-32 in 61 career starts and has thrown for 13,207 yards, 76 touchdowns and 44 interceptions. 

The Raiders (3-2) will host the Tampa Bay Buccaneers at 8:25 p.m. ET on Sunday.