Raiders are scary thin at some spots in Week 12
The Las Vegas Raiders have been dealing with injuries all season and the challenges are continuing.
The 2-8 Raiders are beginning their Week 12 preparations to host the Denver Broncos on Sunday at Allegiant Stadium (1:05 p.m. PT kickoff) by practicing without their top three cornerbacks and top two running backs.
Not ideal.
Las Vegas head coach Antonio Pierce announced Wednesday that cornerbacks Jack Jones (back), Jakorian Bennett (shoulder) and nickel corner Nate Hobbs (ankle) will not practice Wednesday. Also, Pierce said running backs Zamir White (quad) and Alexander Mattison (ankle) also won’t work to start the practice week.
Jones, Bennett, Mattison and White were all hurt in a 34-19 Week 11 loss at Miami on Sunday, while Hobbs was hurt in Week 9 at Cincinnati and he didn’t play at Miami. Bennett was hurt on the second play of the game and Mattison was carted off.
Pierce did say he is hopeful some of these players could practice later this week to give them a chance to play against the 6-5 Broncos.
For now, at cornerback, the Raiders are down to Decamarion Richardson, Darnay Holmes and Sam Webb. Ameer Abdullah and Dylan Laube are the running backs behind White and Mattison.
The Athletic reported center Andre James (ankle) and tight end Harrison Bryant (ankle) also aren’t practicing Wednesday. James missed the past two games and has been replaced by rookie Jackson Powers-Johnson, while Bryant missed the Dolphins’ game.
Tight end Justin Shorter was out with an illness and guard Cody Whitehair was limited with an ankle injury. He missed the Miami game, so he’s making some progress.
