Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Casey Hayward. (Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports)
The Las Vegas Raiders may have beaten the Broncos but they’re coming out of Week 16 with a bunch of defensive starters on the COVID list.
The Raiders would like to be focused on the playoff hunt and the playoff hunt alone.
Unfortunately, they’ve hit a bit of a speed bump this week.
On Monday, Las Vegas added six defensive players to the COVID list including starters like cornerback Casey Hayward and linebackers Cory Littleton, Denzel Perryman and K.J. Wright. Backup nose tackle Darius Philon and backup linebacker Patrick Onwuasor also got hit with COVID.
Raiders COVID list in Week 17
- QB Marcus Mariota
- WR Bryan Edwards
- OL Jermaine Eluemunor
- DT Darius Philon
- LB Cory Littleton
- LB Patrick Onwuasor
- LB Denzel Perryman
- LB K.J. Wright
- CB Brandon Facyson
- CB Casey Hayward
- S Roderic Teamer
Starting corner Brandon Facyson was already on the COVID list, so the Raiders’ entire starting lineup of corners and linebackers is currently unavailable.
Any of those players who are vaccinated can come off the list if they test negative twice before the upcoming game against the Colts, per new NFL COVID regulations.
More help could be coming down the line too if the league takes new CDC recommendations for COVID isolation periods into account. The CDC guidelines now call for five days of isolation instead of 10.
It’s not known if any of the new additions are symptomatic.
The Raiders beat the Broncos 17-13 on Sunday. Philon had a tackle for loss while Perryman finished second on the team with five tackles.