Game on! Raiders-Bucs still good to go Sunday despite coronavirus

The Raiders could have fourth-fifths of their offensive line intact Sunday to face Tampa Bay after negative coronavirus tests.

Offensive linemen Kolton Miller, Denzelle Good, Rodney Hudson and Gabe Jackson are on schedule for the Raiders to face the Tampa Bay Buccaneers Sunday at Allegiant Stadium.

All four were taken off the COVID-19 reserve list according to the transactions wire on the club’s web site. All that remains is to be cleared one last time Sunday morning before the Raiders host the Buccaneers at 1:05 p.m.

The players were deemed “high risk” for being in proximity of right tackle Trent Brown at practice Monday. Brown had a positive test on Tuesday.

A fifth player, safety Johnathan Abram, will be unavailable because his last interaction wtih Brown was was on Tuesday and thus couldn’t have five days of negative tests before game time.

Abram has been tested regularly for more than three months since training camp began in late July and has never had a positive COVID-19 test.

Miller, Good, Hudson and Jackson have not practiced since Monday, instead keeping track of the game plan and getting mental reps “virtually” while in quarantine.

The NFL moved the Raiders game from Sunday night to Sunday afternoon in case there were more positive tests and there was a need to delay the game until Monday and Tuesday. Moving the kickoff time, and replacing the evening slot with Seattle at Arizona, ensured there would be a game in the league’s most lucrative time slot pending more positive tests from the Raiders.

Even at that, coach Jon Gruden said Friday it was his understanding the game was going to be played Sunday regardless of how the tests of his linemen came out. A postponement or delay was likely only in case of an additional rash of positive tests.

The Raiders also activated two players from the practice squad — defensive end David Irving and defensive back Dylan Mabin.

Irving joined the Raiders this week after being reinstated following an indefinite suspension under the NFL’s policy of substances of abuse and has passed all COVID-19 tests needed to be eligible to play.