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Raiders coach John Gruden will have to face his team, which won the Super Bowl title in 2002, although it remained without an offensive line for most of the week. Gruden is not happy about it.
According to a league source, Gruden is “livid” that the game was not postponed until Monday or Tuesday night to give the offensive linemen a chance to prepare for the game, which was why they were sent home most of the week. Extended COVID-19 protocol that automatically knocks out other healthy players based on the official results of contact tracing (a little more on that).
Last week the Riders had an abusive lineman present for Monday’s practice, but they didn’t return until Saturday, missing the week’s most important study days. With the Tampa Bay defense, they may not be as ready for Sunday’s shutdown as they could have been.
Gruden believes the game should be bumped up on Monday or Tuesday night to give his linemen more time to get ready. The Buchananers play against the Giants next Monday night, which reduces the inconvenience of Tampa Bay.
“As we have said before the start of the season, with the health and safety of the players and staff as a priority, we always try to play games close to their scheduled time, date and place,” a league spokesman said. Sunday at P.F.T. “There were no additional positive tests among the riders who were able to keep their facility open and practice as a team. The roster flexibility is also in place with the increasing number of practice squad players available (16) and their ability to move. [the] Active [roster] As required. Close contacts of riders deserve to play today. Teams and players understand that their schedule and season require adherence to protocols to prevent outbreaks and setbacks. “
The Raiders aren’t the only team to miss practice time this year. Among others, the Titans missed an extended stretch (but for on-site sessions), and the Patriots played the Broncos last week with limited practice time.
Still, the lone, prime-time game between the Bucks and the Raiders would have generated tremendous ratings, but the league decided to move on with the game as scheduled. One factor in this regard may be the potential desire to play the game as soon as possible, before any additional positive tests from either team can push the game into the first week of the game, as there is no way to rearrange it during the remaining 10. Weeks of the season.
