After pulling off a second straight win and keeping their playoff hopes alive for another week, the Las Vegas Raiders received some bad news on Monday. Six players were placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list, with some notable names potentially set to miss this week’s matchup with the Indianapolis Colts.
According to the team’s Twitter account, three of the Raiders’ best defensive players have tested positive for COVID-19.
We have placed CB Casey Hayward, LB Cory Littleton, LB Patrick Onwuasor, LB Denzel Perryman, DT Darius Philon and LB K.J. Wright on the Reserve/COVID-19 list. pic.twitter.com/UUgNx6jzrT
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) December 27, 2021
The Raiders have had no luck this season when things start to trend up for the silver and black. Las Vegas is very much in the mix for a playoff spot in the AFC, and now they’ll potentially have to face one of the hottest teams in the league with an NFL MVP candidate coming out of the backfield in Jonathan Taylor.
Casey Hayward and Denzel Perryman are having a great season in their first year in silver and black. Perryman earned a Pro Bowl nod, while Hayward has been without a doubt the best corner on the team during the 2021 campaign thus far.
The real question moving forward for Las Vegas is whether Perryman, Hayward and K.J. Wright can test negative (if vaccinated) before the Week 17 showdown with the Colts. In addition, Marcus Mariota and Bryan Edwards are also on the Reserve/COVID-19 list, which will impact the offense.
If the Raiders can’t get some or any of these players back for Sunday’s game, Las Vegas will have its hands full against a team that has won nine of their last 12 games.
