Today the Raiders were all set to hop on a plane and head to Cleveland to face the Browns. Well, some of the Browns anyway. The team has placed nearly half their team on the reserve/COVID-19 list including their top two quarterbacks. And the positive tests keep coming in.
The #Browns have lost another starter for the #Raiders game:
Jadeveon Clowney has tested positive for Covid.
— KimberlEY A. Martin (@ByKimberleyA) December 17, 2021
Thus when the Raiders players showed up to the facility ready for their road trip and were told to stand by to await further instruction as the NFL and NFLPA consider postponing the game.
Raiders are supposed to board buses to go to the airport at 11:15 am PT/ 2:15 ET, and some players have said that they are being told at this time to stand down, per source. https://t.co/5OwUwFDLcM
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 17, 2021
The Raiders were fighting the idea of postponing the game and some of their players have been vocal about it.
The Las Vegas Raiders have been made aware that the league is discussing a potential scheduling change with the Browns game, per source. Las Vegas has been fighting it, believing that protocols over the summer were clear that teams with outbreaks had to forfeit.
— Jeremy Fowler (@JFowlerESPN) December 17, 2021
We agreed that their wouldn’t be any postponed game this season right?! https://t.co/FNtCe0hW2W
— KJ (@KJ_WRIGHT34) December 17, 2021
But in the end, the decision was made to postpone it, calling it a health and safety issue due to players continuing to test positive.
The #Raiders at #Browns game is being postponed to Monday, per league source.
— IG: JosinaAnderson (@JosinaAnderson) December 17, 2021
Raiders players were just told their game has been moved to Monday 5 PM ET.
— Jay Glazer (@JayGlazer) December 17, 2021
So, now what was a game on a short week at 1:30pm on Saturday is now a long week. Well, sort of. The Raiders still prepared for the short week. Now they will have a short week next week as well through no fault of their own. So, you can understand their frustrations. But this may just be for the best.