For the third time in four days the Raiders have placed one of their players on the reserve/COVID-19 list. Kicker Daniel Carlson becomes the latest to be placed on the list, explaining his absence from Saturday’s practice.
The previous players to be placed on the list were running backs Theo Riddick and Jalen Richard. Riddick testing positive for COVID was what ultimately prompted him to retire this week as Josh Jacobs pointed out.
“It’s crazy because Theo, he’s a veteran, like a real veteran, ten-year veteran,” Jacobs said of Riddick… ”
It was crazy because before the season started, he had thought about retiring. He’d come in here and it would take him longer to get ready. He was already hinting at it so when he caught COVID, he was like, he’s got a couple of young kids, and he was like ‘yeah, it’s time’.”
As for Richard, it appears he was placed on the list as a close contact. Richard has in the past said he would not get his children vaccinated and lamented the league’s restrictions on unvaccinated players.
Saturday head coach Jon Gruden said he expects Richard back at practice when the team reconvenes on Monday, noting that Richard has been participating in meeting over Zoom for the first four days of camp.