Las Vegas Raiders cornerback and 2019 second-round draft pick Trayvon Mullen has been out since Week 4 with a toe injury. He suffered the injury against the Miami Dolphins in Week 3 and was placed on Injured Reserve shortly after.
In the three games he did play, Mullen was one of the team’s better options at cornerback. He had 16 tackles, four pass deflections, and an interception, while the Raiders went 3-0. They are 3-5 in the eight games that he missed, with Brandon Facyson taking the majority of his snaps.
Now, Mullen appears to be gearing up for a return, with a major step being taken by the Raiders. Las Vegas designated Mullen to return from IR on Wednesday, and he practiced in full for the first time on Thursday, according to Kevin Bolinger of Fox:
Trayvon Mullen back on the practice field preparing to come off injured reserve. #RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/VZowfGAygm
— Kevin Bolinger (@KevinFOX5Vegas) December 2, 2021
At this point, it’s unclear if Mullen will be able to play this week when the Raiders take on the Washington Football Team. It’s possible that he comes back on a limited capacity before returning to his regular role in Week 14.
However, those decisions will be made by Rich Bisaccia and training staff as the Raiders get closer to game time. For now, it’s a huge positive to see him back on the practice field. Facyson had done a solid job in his absence but didn’t have great performances in Weeks 11 and 12.
If Mullen is unable to play against Washington on Sunday, his return will likely be next week when the Raiders head to Arrowhead Stadium to face the Kansas City Chiefs in a huge, potentially season-defining game.
Carl Nassib week-to-week
If the Raiders aren’t getting Mullen back for week 13, it’s possible that they’ll play Washington without him and edge rusher Carl Nassib. Bisaccia said that Nassib — along with Darren Waller — were considered week-to-week, making it unlikely that they play in Sunday’s upcoming game.
