The Las Vegas Raiders have struggled to follow protocols during the 2020 NFL season amid the ongoing coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Their woes have been magnified by the multiple setbacks with one of their most prominent players in right tackle Trent Brown.
Brown has spent ample time on the Reserve/COVID-19 list having only played one full game during the 2020 NFL season. His status took a turn for the worse after a botched IV landed him in the hospital before the 16-6 victory over the Cleveland Browns in Week 8.
Brown’s inability to stay healthy has left a rather notable void up front for Las Vegas. Unfortunately, it appears he is now set to miss the next month after being placed on the Reserve/COVID-19 list once again, according to NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport:
The #Raiders placed OT Trent Brown on the reserve/COVID-19 list again this week & I’m told he’s expected to miss at least a month. LV said his placement on the list is related to COVID complications, but he also recently had a pre-game IV mishap that left him in the hospital.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 8, 2020
With the issues starting to pile on for Brown, it seems the Raiders are now doing what they can to ensure that he can work his way back to full healthy without suffering any further setbacks. With the team still in striking distance of the Kansas City Chiefs in the AFC West, the hope is to have the veteran back by the crucial, final stretch of the 2020 campaign.
Aside from the illness, head coach Jon Gruden expressed some concern regarding Brown’s conditioning level upon making his return. It is safe to say that this will only be magnified once he begins to work his way back down the road.
Not only has Brown’s ongoing trouble cost him time from the field, it has resulted in some heavy fines for the team’s pockets as well. They have had to shell out more than $1.2 million for COVID-related fines and also had a 2021 sixth-round draft pick taken from them.
Although the Raiders are focused on the task at hand with each week, their lackluster efforts to contain the virus are now coming back to haunt them so hopefully they can turn things around in that respect moving forward.
