Just prior to the Raiders facing the Browns last Monday, they placed cornerback Nate Hobbs on the reserve COVID-19 list. And with just six days until they faced the Broncos, they were facing the possibility of being without him for a second game as well. Saturday they got the good news that Hobbs has tested out of the protocol and will return to the field Sunday.
His return is crucial in part due to the loss of starting outside CB Trayvon Mullen to injured reserve and backup CB Brandon Facyson to the reserve/COVID-19 list.
As of Friday’s final practice, Hobbs and Facyson remained on the reserve/COVID-19 list along with fellow defensive back Roderic Teamer and offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor but interim head coach Rich Bisaccia was still hopeful the team could get back some of them before Sunday’s game.
“I’d like to think depending on the test times that they are all going to have a chance,” said Bisaccia. “So, we’ll know a little bit more tomorrow and then we believe we are going to go all the way into Sunday morning as to knowing who we actually have out of that group. So, everyone has been put on high alert. We lost [Nate] Hobbs certainly Monday morning before that game and had to deal with it at that particular time. We are expecting possibly to have to do the same thing this week.”
Hobbs’s return is the best news of the bunch. He has been a big part of the Raiders defense this season. The rookie fourth round pick earned the starting nickel corner job out of camp and has been a bright spot ever since, both in coverage and versus the run.
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