In each of the Raiders’ two games this season, they didn’t make it through the first quarter with the same five offensive linemen that started the game. In the opener, they lost Trent Brown to a calf injury after three snaps. Then they lost backup Sam Young with a groin injury after just 15 snaps as well.
That had backup guard Denzelle Good step in at right tackle. He played so well at that spot, the team gave him the start last week as well, instead of reserve tackle Brandon Parker.
Two drives into the Monday night game against the Saints, left guard Richie Incognito was lost to an Achilles injury. He was replaced by rookie John Simpson.
What that meant was the first game they played a guard at a position which he had not practiced at all with the team and then a rookie who hadn’t played an NFL snap.
It was such a shock for Simpson, he didn’t think Incognito was serious when he told him to get ready.
“It definitely was like…when Richie told me to start warming up, I thought he was joking (laugh) honestly,” said Simpson after the game. “He was like “no, I’m serious,’ and I’m like instantly it snapped. I had to start quieting my mind. I couldn’t let anxiety take over, I couldn’t let anything distract how I played and that was really my biggest thing. Just going in there and quieting my mind and talking to myself and letting myself know I could do it. That I belong here.”
It was a rough first game out for Simpson, and even with Incognito placed on injured reserve, it’s still uncertain if Simpson will get the start this week.
“We’ll see what happens with the health of our team,” Gruden said on whether Simpson would start Sunday. “He got some valuable experience. He is improving, he has a long way to go.”
Obviously, the Raiders would rather not have to start a fourth-round rookie who is entering his career in the COVID era.
“I think every young guy in the NFL this year because of the circumstance surrounding the virus and all the protocol and not having an offseason if you will for development, I don’t think any of them will live up to what you drafted them for,” said offensive coordinator Greg Olson.
“If you think about it, these guys would’ve had 250-300 pass pro reps. He didn’t get any of that. So he walks into training camp for the first time and has to jump into our system and play.”
There is a best-case scenario though. It starts at right tackle. Trent Brown is out, so that isn’t happening. But backup Sam Young practiced limited all week and is questionable for the game. Gruden said he’s waiting until at least Saturday before deciding whether he looks healthy enough to play.
Should Young be a go, that would mean he starts at right tackle, and if he does, that would move Denzelle Good back to guard, presumably as the starting left guard, where he does his best work.
Another possible scenario, even if Young is not able to go would be throwing new addition Patrick Omameh in at left guard.
The seventh-year veteran has started 57 games in his career and appeared in 14 games for the Saints last season. He was added to the practice squad last week, prior to facing his old team, and promoted to the active roster on Wednesday with Incognito sent to IR.
“It’s a mystery,” Gruden said of who is playing where along the offensive line this week. “We don’t know who’s up at any position, so we’re hoping we can find five starters that are healthy and ready to go.”
That pretty much sums it up.
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