Raiders Place DT Maurice Hurst On Reserve/COVID-19 List
The Raiders may be without one of their rotational defensive linemen Sunday against the Chiefs. They placed Maurice Hurst on their reserve/COVID-19 list Tuesday, per Adam Schefter of ESPN.com (on Twitter).
Players do not have to test positive for the coronavirus to land on this list; they only need to have come in contact with someone who has. But considering the NFL’s issues with COVID-19 over the past several days, this bears monitoring.
Hurst was not among the Raiders fined for being photographed without masks at Darren Waller‘s fundraiser, but the third-year defensive lineman did play 35 snaps against the Bills. Hurst was not at the fundraiser, according to The Athletic’s Tashan Reed (on Twitter). But the prospect of Hurst playing last week while carrying the virus would present a major issue, though it is not yet known if he has tested positive.
Hurst, 25, also dropped in the draft due to a heart condition. That has not, however, impeded him as a pro. The former fifth-round pick has missed just three games since being drafted. A second-generation NFLer, Hurst has played 42% of Las Vegas’ defensive snaps this season. At present, he is the only player on the Raiders’ COVID list.
NFL Implements COVID-19 Policy Changes, Raiders Players Fined
In response to the growing number of positive COVID-19 tests around the league, the NFL is taking action. In a call with all 32 teams the league office laid out a slew of new policy changes, and sternly warned teams about the consequences of not following them.
In the memo recapping the call, which you can read courtesy of this tweet from Tom Pelissero of NFL Network, they laid out some new protocols. The NFL and NFLPA jointly agreed to a “longer onboarding process” for free agent workouts, bans on gatherings outside the team facility, limits on the number of tryouts allowed per week, and the implementation of a “league-wide video monitoring system” to ensure teams are wearing masks and following protocols within their own buildings.
Details were sparse, but it sounds like Roger Goodell will now be watching what is going on within each facility. The line about gatherings outside the facility may have been directed toward the Raiders, who were just slapped with more fines after players were photographed mask-less at a fundraiser hosted by tight end Darren Waller. Waller was fined $30K for the incident, while Derek Carr, Derek Carrier, Zay Jones, Nevin Lawson, Erik Magnuson, Foster Moreau, Nathan Peterman, Hunter Renfrow, and Jason Witten were each fined $15K, according to a tweet from Dan Graziano of ESPN.com.
We just got word earlier that the Raiders had been fined $50K after an investigation into unauthorized locker room access, and the team and head coach Jon Gruden were fined hundreds of thousands for mask violations in Week 2.
Perhaps most significantly, the memo outlines potential extreme punishments for new violations. The memo says that any team that has a COVID-19 protocol violation which results in spreading of the virus that impacts scheduling or other teams may be subject to the loss of draft picks or potential forfeitures of games.
Forfeiting a game would be a truly nuclear option, and the fact that it was even broached shows how serious the league is taking threats to the rest of the season. That would seem to apply to a team like the Titans, which had a true outbreak which has caused the only actual postponement to date. The new free agent workout restrictions could make it harder for veterans on the market to find jobs. This surely isn’t the last we’ve heard on the subject, and we’ll keep you posted whenever anything new comes along.
Raiders Hit With Another COVID-19 Fine
- The league continues to dish out punishments for COVID-19 protocol violations, with the Raiders getting slapped with another fine. Las Vegas was fined $50K for letting a non-credentialed employee into the locker room following their Week 2 win over the Saints, sources told Ian Rapoport of NFL Network (Twitter link). The Raiders have already been hit, with the team being fined $250K and head coach Jon Gruden being fined $100K for not properly wearing his mask during that same game. We heard a couple weeks ago that a team was under investigation for “unauthorized locker room access,” and it appears this latest fine is the conclusion of that investigation. The league has a call with all teams later this afternoon to give them a stern talking to about protocols in the wake of a litany of positive tests, and it sounds like the Raiders are firmly in the league’s crosshairs.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 10/3/20
Here are Saturday’s practice squad decisions:
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: DE Breeland Speaks
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: QB Jake Rudock
- Released: CB Javaris Davis
New England Patriots
- Signed: LB Michael Pinckney
- Released: DT Xavier Williams
New York Giants
- Signed: TE Eric Tomlinson
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed: CB Jamar Taylor
Minor NFL Transactions: 10/3/20
Here is Saturday’s bevy of minor moves:
Arizona Cardinals
- Promoted: RB Jonathan Ward, CB Jace Whittaker
Baltimore Ravens
- Promoted: CB Khalil Dorsey
Buffalo Bills
- Waived: RB Antonio Williams
Carolina Panthers
- Activated from IR: CB Eli Apple
- Promoted: RB Reggie Bonnafon, LB Chris Orr
- Waived: DE Shareef Miller
Chicago Bears
- Promoted: QB Tyler Bray
Dallas Cowboys
- Promoted: LB Francis Bernard
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Promoted: OL K.C. McDermott, S Doug Middleton, K Aldrick Rosas
Las Vegas Raiders
- Promoted: WR Keelan Doss, RB Theo Riddick
Los Angeles Chargers
- Promoted: WR Tyron Johnson, OL Cole Toner
Los Angeles Rams
- Promoted: S JuJu Hughes
Minnesota Vikings
- Promoted: S George Iloka
New Orleans Saints
- Promoted: OL Will Clapp, CB Ken Crawley, TE Garrett Griffin
- Placed on IR: LB Chase Hansen
New York Giants
- Promoted: WR Austin Mack
New York Jets
- Claimed (from Lions): RB Ty Johnson
Philadelphia Eagles
- Promoted: DB Grayland Arnold, WR Deontay Burnett, WR Travis Fulgham, C Luke Juriga, RB Adrian Killins
- Placed on IR: CB Trevor Williams
San Francisco 49ers
- Promoted: LB Joe Walker
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Promoted: RB Kenjon Barner
Washington Football Team
- Promoted: G Joshua Garnett
Raiders Place CB Damon Arnette On IR
After aggravating a previous thumb injury in Week 3, Damon Arnette will see his rookie season paused for a while. The Raiders placed the first-round cornerback on IR.
Arnette initially broke his thumb during training camp but landed on it awkwardly against the Patriots last week. As a result, the Raiders will be without a key defensive piece for a while. Arnette underwent thumb surgery this week and will be out at least six weeks.
The suddenly potent Bills passing offense will face a Raiders team ranking 31st in defensive DVOA, though the unit sits 18th in DVOA against the pass through three weeks. The Raiders may also be down rookie cornerback Amik Robertson, who is questionable with a non-coronavirus illness. Arnette has started each of the Raiders’ games this season.
Las Vegas looks also set to be without its other 2020 first-rounder against Buffalo. The Raiders listed Henry Ruggs as doubtful to face the Bills. Ruggs is battling knee and hamstring injuries.
Additionally, the Raiders promoted safety Dallin Leavitt from their practice squad and placed defensive tackle Daniel Ross on IR.
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/29/20
Here are Tuesday’s minor moves:
Chicago Bears
- Promoted: RB Artavis Pierce
- Placed on IR: RB Tarik Cohen (story)
Cleveland Browns
- Promoted: S Jovante Moffatt
- Placed on IR: WR JoJo Natson (story)
Indianapolis Colts
- Signed off Cowboys’ practice squad: DT Ron’Dell Carter
- Released from IR: RB Bruce Anderson
New York Giants
- Signed off Raiders’ practice squad: DB Madre Harper
New York Jets
- Designated to return from IR: WR Jeff Smith
Philadelphia Eagles
- Designated to return from IR: WR Quez Watkins
San Francisco 49ers
- Signed off Buccaneers’ practice squad: TE Daniel Helm
Seattle Seahawks
- Released from IR: LB Emmanuel Ellerbee
- Waived: LB D’Andre Walker
Washington Football Team
- Promoted: DE Nate Orchard
- Placed on IR: DL Matt Ioaniddis (story)
Raiders' Damon Arnette Facing IR Stay
- Raiders first-round cornerback Damon Arnette is visiting a thumb specialist Tuesday, and Rapoport notes he could miss up to six weeks (Twitter link). This was an aggravation of a previous injury, with Arnette having broken his thumb prior to the regular season’s outset. Arnette fell awkwardly on the injured thumb during Sunday’s game against the Patriots.
- Second-year Raiders safety Johnathan Abram played through an AC joint sprain Sunday, but questions about the injury persist. Abram collided with a TV cart during the Raiders’ Week 2 win over the Saints, and the NFL has engaged in discussions with ESPN about where the network’s carts can be during games, per Pelissero and Rapoport. The cart was closer to the field because of the COVID-19 pandemic restricting cheerleaders, photographers and other personnel from the sideline. Abram missed almost all of last season following an injury during the Raiders’ Week 1 game on a Monday night.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/28/20
Today’s practice squad moves:
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: CB Delrick Abrams, CB Tyler Hall, LB Edmond Robinson
Chicago Bears
- Signed: DT Terry Beckner
Houston Texans
- Signed: DL Ryan Glasgow, DT Corey Liuget (story)
- Cut: OL Cordel Iwuagwu
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: OL Jared Hilbers, K Aldrick Rosas
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: WR Robert Davis
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: DB Luther Kirk
- Released DB Nate Meadors
New England Patriots
- Signed: CB Michael Jackson, DT Nick Thurman, WR Zay Zuber
New Orleans Saints
- CB Ken Crawley
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed:LB Shaquem Griffin, DB Ryan Neal
Raiders Under Investigation For COVID-19 Protocol Violations
Raiders HC Jon Gruden was one of a handful of head coaches to be slapped with a $100K fine for not consistently wearing his mask during his team’s Week 2 game, and the Raiders themselves were handed a $250K fine for Gruden’s indiscretion. And the league isn’t finished with Las Vegas just yet.
Tom Pelissero of the NFL Network reported several days ago that a team was under investigation for “unauthorized locker room access” (Twitter link), and as Adam Schefter of ESPN.com wrote last night, that team is the Raiders. This season, only 40 employees in each organization are allowed to be in the locker room, and an unauthorized Raiders employee allegedly entered the locker room following the team’s win against the Saints on Monday night.
If that allegation turns out to be true, then the league will impose discipline, according to Schefter. It seems likely that such discipline would come in the form of additional fines, but the NFL is apparently willing to go further if necessary.
Indeed, Jason La Canfora of CBS Sports says coaches who continue to violate COVID-19 protocols will not only face fines several times higher than the $100K penalty doled out this week, they could also face suspension. Even draft pick forfeiture is not out of the question, and to drive that point home, the coaches who received fines also received a letter from the NFL that included the following language: “[f]uture violations of this rule or any other league policy … will result in increased accountability measures for you, individually, as well as your club.”
Ian Rapoport of NFL.com says that all coaches who were fined have filed appeals (Twitter link). That includes Gruden, who said, “I’m doing my best. I’m very sensitive about it. … I’m calling plays. I just want to 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.” The appeals will be heard this week.
Interestingly, Gruden also indicated that he tested positive for COVID-19 earlier this year. He did not divulge many details on his experience, saying only, “it wasn’t pleasant” (Twitter link via Pelissero).