Raiders send O-linemen home after placing Trent Brown on COVID-19 list
The Las Vegas Raiders sent their starting offensive linemen home Wednesday after they came in contact with right tackle Trent Brown, who the team placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list due to a positive test, head coach Jon Gruden announced, according to Tashan Reed of The Athletic.
The isolated blockers are offensive tackle Kolton Miller, guards Denzelle Good and Gabe Jackson, and center Rodney Hudson.
Additionally, safety Johnathan Abram was also sent home due to the team's COVID-19 contact tracing.
The Raiders started contact tracing Wednesday after moving Brown to the reserve group. Sending players who had close contact with an individual on the COVID-19 list is part of the NFL's protocols this season, per Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.
Brown is the third player currently on Las Vegas' COVID-19 list, along with defensive tackle Maurice Hurst and cornerback Damon Arnette.
The absences at practice forced Gruden to line up an unfamiliar offensive line alongside quarterback Derek Carr.
So, Carr's OL today at practice, right to left, was Sam Young, Patrick Omameh, Andre James, John Simpson and Brandon Parker. ...
— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) October 21, 2020
Sam Young and John Simpson are the only ones from that group with starting experience on the Raiders.
Coming off a bye, the 3-2 Raiders are scheduled to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 7.
"Hopefully, we'll get some players back tomorrow for Sunday," Gruden said, according to ESPN's Paul Gutierrez.
The starting offensive linemen could still be cleared to face the Buccaneers even if they are deemed "high risk," a source told Pelissero. The blockers, last exposed to the virus Monday, now need to be isolated for five days before returning to the practice facility, according to the league's protocols.