The Las Vegas Raiders reported no new positive COVID-19 tests on Saturday heading into a critical matchup vs. the Kansas City Chiefs on Sunday night. This frees up a slew of key players who were previously ineligible due to NFL contact tracing rules.
Continuing the trend of being the league’s most embattled franchise when fighting off the COVID-19 virus, the Raiders’ defense was previously decimated going into Week 11.
The Raiders placed 10 players on their reserve/COVID list this week, including starters Maliek Collins (DT), Isaiah Johnson (DB), Johnathan Hankins (DT), Arden Key (DE), Kendal Vickers (DT), and safeties Johnathan Abram and Lamarcus Joyner.
The #Raiders have had no new positives in COVID-19 testing, which means several defensive players — including S Johnathan Abram and DTs Maliek Collins and Johnathan Hankins — should be on the wire as activated. When today’s test comes back for tomorrow AM, they’ll be good.
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) November 21, 2020
The COVID-19 protocol for the Raiders’ defense was put in place in the wake of defensive end Clelin Ferrell’s positive test earlier this week.
Inactive for Sunday, Ferrell joins Theo Riddick, tackle Trent Brown, and linebacker Cory Littleton on the reserve list. Practice squad players David Irving and linebacker Javin White will take the place of Ferrell and Littleton.
The players ruled eligible will undergo a final round of rapid testing on Sunday morning. Those who remain negative will start at home Sunday night.
Line Moves in Wake of News
The Chiefs (8-1) vs. Raiders (6-3) is an AFC West showdown on Sunday Night Football. The Chiefs, who report that all of their starters are healthy, have won four straight and are coming off a 33-31 victory over Carolina last week. The Raiders are in the AFC playoff hunt after a convincing 37-12 win over Denver last week.
The line opened at Kansas City -8.5 as the Raiders’ defense missed practice this week. There was movement late Saturday, however, as the teams await final testing results. As of Sunday morning, you can find the Chiefs at -7 at most sportsbooks.
