As someone who covers the Raiders exclusively, I can tend to have some tunnel vision. It’s not unlike the view the general fanbase has. In our little bubble, we’ve seen the predicament the Raiders have had at tackle this season and figure it doesn’t get much worse. Then you see what the Broncos have gone through. Specifically at right tackle.
Their starting right tackle this season was supposed to be former 19th overall pick Ja’Wuan James. Then COVID-19 hit and James was among the players who opted out for this season.
That had Elijah Wilkinson step up, just as he had last season after James was lost to injury. That lasted three games.
When Wilkinson was lost to injury it was Demar Dotson’s turn. The 35-year-old former Buccaneer had been signed on August 12. He stepped in and started the past five games. Then he left after 22 snaps in their loss to the Falcons last week.
Coming in for Dotson was second-year former seventh-round pick Jake Rodgers. He played the rest of the game but suffered a shoulder injury that had him miss practice Thursday and Friday and he’s listed as questionable for the game, as is Dotson who missed practice Wednesday and Thursday before being limited on Friday.
Should neither Dotson nor Rodgers be able to go, the next up would be undrafted rookie Calvin Anderson who has not played a single NFL offensive snap.
The best-case scenario for the Broncos is a banged-up 35-year-old third-stringer. Next, best case scenario is a banged-up recent 7th round pick who was cut by his original team and has one career start. But at least for their part, they’ve had starting left tackle Garett Bolles all season.
The Raiders will be without both starting tackles. They are looking at backups Brandon Parker and Sam Young at left and right tackle respectively. Both making their second start in a row. Parker had his best game last week against the Chargers, but it’s just one game, so a lot more snaps will be needed to see if he’s really turned the corner in his development in his third season.
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