Las Vegas is beat up headed in Week 12
As expected, the 2-8 Las Vegas Raiders will be without their top two running backs and, at least, two of their three top cornerbacks Sunday when they host the Denver Broncos at Allegiant Stadium (1:05 p.m. PT kickoff).
Friday afternoon, Las Vegas head coach Antonio Pierce said cornerbacks Jakorian Bennett (shoulder) and Hobbs (ankle) and running backs Zamir White (quad) and Alexander Mattison (ankle) will not play Sunday. They all missed the entire practice week. For the record, Mattison and White are listed as doubtful to play.
Starting cornerback Jack Jones (back) will practice Friday and, thus, has a chance to play Sunday. He is listed as questionable on the injury report.
Center Andre James (ankle) will also practice Friday and is also questionable. James missed the past two games and has been replaced by rookie Jackson Powers-Johnson. Pierce said Powers-Johnson will remain the center though, because he wants some consistency in the lineup. If is unknown if James, who signed a three-year $24million contract extension in March, will return to the starting lineup later this season and if Powers-Johnson will move back to guard. Center is considered the second-round pick from Oregon’s best NFL position.
Backups, tight end Harrison Bryant (ankle) and guard Cody Whitehair (ankle) are both listed as questionable.
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.
For now, at cornerback, the Raiders are down to Decamarion Richardson, Darnay Holmes and Sam Webb if Jones can’t play. Ameer Abdullah and Dylan Laube will be the running backs with White and Mattison expected out.
For Denver, standout defensive end Zach Allen is questionable with a heel injury.
