Tag: Las Vegas Raiders vs Los Angeles Chargers

Chargers QB Justin Herbert foot injury casts doubt on health for season opener vs Raiders

Chargers QB Justin Herbert foot injury casts doubt on health for season opener vs Raiders

The only team in the AFC West expected to be able to offer a challenge to the Chiefs’ division supremacy is the Los Angeles Chargers. Due in large part to new head coach Jim Harbaugh and his Pro Bowl quarterback Justin Herbert.

Those hopes may have taken a hit today as it was revealed Herbert has suffered an injury to his plantar fascia that will have him miss the rest of camp, likely the preseason as well, with the hopes that he will be healthy by the start of the season.

As the Chargers announced, Herbert will be in a walking boot for two weeks, and slowly work his way back. The “expectation” is that he will be ready for the start of the season, but nothing is for certain.

The low end of the recovery time expected for such an injury is six weeks. If that is the case, he would be ready just in time for the season opener. If the injury lingers, he could either miss the opener or be hampered by the injury.

Raiders reportedly ‘leaning toward’ starting rookie QB Aidan O’Connell Sunday vs Chargers

Report: Raiders ‘leaning toward’ Aidan O’Connell as starting QB vs Chargers

What a six days it’s been. Sunday night Jimmy Garoppolo started against the Steelers in the home opener, playing every snap. Brian Hoyer was the backup for the game and Aidan O’Connell was inactive, just as he has been every game this season. Now a report from ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler says the Raiders could start O’Connell against the Chargers Sunday.

Ok, we know how it started and how it’s going, but let’s see how we got here.

Last Sunday night, we all waited in the press conference room following the game for Garoppolo to come in and take the podium. Josh McDaniels had already spoken and 15 minutes had gone by when Raiders head of media relations Will Kiss came in and told us all the Jimmy G would not be speaking. That he was in the concussion protocol.

This came as a shock to us all considering he played the whole game and there was no clear indication of a hit that could have been the culprit. There was a hit by Minkah Fitzpatrick on a blitz, but with a closer look, it didn’t appear as if he made significant contact with the helmet.

The point is, most of us thought he would be fine. That his evaluation was probably just precautionary.

Garoppolo did miss Wednesday’s practice, which suggested the evaluation came back with something concerning. When he took the practice field on Thursday, he was still in concussion protocol, so that too seemed like just part of his inevitable return.

Come the final injury report, he was Questionable. Still pretty standard stuff.

Then come Saturday he was downgraded to OUT. I joined a lot of people in being stunned at the development.

Many fans had been calling for O’Connell to be the next man up since the beginning of the season after the fourth round rookie lit up the preseason. But Hoyer remained the primary backup to Garoppolo and that didn’t change through this past week. The only thing that changed from O’Connell’s previous status was that he was going to actually be active for the first time.

Then come 10pm Pacific time — not six hours since Garoppolo was officially ruled out — this report that the team could be seriously considering starting O’Connell over Hoyer.

Well, consider me and much of the rest of the media shocked. Which would be, like, the third or fourth time this week regarding who will be lining up at QB for the Raiders on Sunday.

Not because I don’t think O’Connell deserves a shot. I mean why not? But just because there was no indication it was a possibility until now. Just a few hours ago, it appeared Garoppolo was starting and Hoyer was next man up. That all may have changed. And with kickoff literally 15 hours away.

Maybe this is real, maybe it’s just gamesmanship. I’m done being schocked. We shall just have to watch and see who trots on the field with the Raiders starting offense tomorrow.

Never a dull moment with the Raiders, I tell ya.

Las Vegas Raiders vs Los Angeles Chargers Prediction, Game Preview

Las Vegas Raiders vs Los Angeles Chargers game preview, prediction, and breakdown for the Week 1 game on Sunday, September 11

Las Vegas Raiders vs Los Angeles Chargers prediction, game preview, how to watch. Week 1, Sunday, September 11

Las Vegas Raiders vs Los Angeles Chargers How To Watch

Date: Sunday, September 11
Game Time: 3:25 ET
Venue: SoFi Stadium, Inglewood, CA
How To Watch: FOX
Record: Las Vegas Raiders (0-0), Los Angeles Chargers (0-0)
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Las Vegas Raiders vs Los Angeles Chargers Game Preview

Why Las Vegas Raiders Will Win

The firepower is there to do a whole lot more.

The coaching is in place to start bombing away, Davante Adams is there to give Derek Carr a true No. 1 target, and there’s a potentially strong rotation of running backs to pound away on the soft Charger defensive interior.

Just keep the chains moving. Los Angeles didn’t do that much to fix up the leaky D, and Vegas should be even stronger at going on long, sustained marches. Third downs were a problem last year – not anymore. However …

– Week 1 CFN NFL Expert Picks

Why Los Angeles Chargers Will Win

The pass rush will be a problem for what should be a leaky Raider offensive front.

Will Carr have enough time to work?

The Chargers might have a few concerns at tackle, but they’ll bring the heat on Carr from the outside. The defense will give up plenty of yards and big plays, but it should come up with several clutch money down stops.

In a game like this with these two attacks, any hold of defensive serve will be massive.

– Week 1 NFL Schedule, Predictions, Game Previews

What’s Going To Happen

These two play interesting games, and this might be as entertaining as anything they’ve done over the last few seasons.

Both will try to run the ball – just because – but it’ll be the quarterbacks who rise up and make this a show.

The Raiders might be the story with all of the changes, but Justin Herbert will rise up and show why he’s ready to push for an MVP-caliber season with a monster performance.

– NFL Team Schedules

Las Vegas Raiders vs Los Angeles Chargers Prediction, Line

Los Angeles Chargers 34, Las Vegas Raiders 30
Line: Los Angles -3.5, o/u: 52.5
ATS Confidence out of 5: 3

– NFL Coaches Against the Spread

Las Vegas Raiders vs Los Angeles Chargers Must See Rating: 4
5: US Open Week 2
1: Samaritan

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Ballers & Busters for Raiders Week 18 vs Chargers

Ballers & Busters for Raiders Week 18 vs Chargers

This game was so absolutely insane, it became challenging to sift through it to find the heroes and the goats. The game swung in completely different directions four times in regulation. And back the other direction in the overtime period.

The Raiders jumped out to a 10-0 lead in the first quarter. Midway through the second quarter, that lead turned into a 14-10 deficit. Then early in the fourth quarter, it ballooned to a 29-14 lead again. But two long touchdown drives in the final eight minutes would tie the game up at 29-29 and keep the game alive.

Each team scored on their drives in the overtime period. But no one scored a touchdown and since the Raiders got the ball first, that meant their second field goal was for the win.

Ballers

DE Maxx Crosby

As much energy as Crosby usually brings, he was a man possessed in this one. He made mincemeat out of Storm Norton to terrorize Justin Herbert and company all night.

Crosby nearly ended the Chargers’ first scoring drive when he got pressure to bat a Herbert pass down on third and two. But as happened a lot in this game, the Chargers went for it on fourth down and converted to keep the drive alive and finish with a touchdown.

Late in the second quarter, after the Raiders retook the lead 17-14, Crosby again burst into the Chargers’ backfield. Norton was flagged for holding and Crosby still affected Herbert’s throw. It fell incomplete and the penalty was declined to force a punt and end the first half.

The Chargers weren’t overly concerned because they knew they would be getting the ball first to begin the third quarter. A 42-yard reception put them at the Vegas 22-yard-line. Two plays resulted in losses and Crosby stopped the screen attempt at two yards. Dustin Hopkins came in to try and 51-yard field goal and missed it.

Crosby was in on the stop on third down on the Chargers’ next drive as well. This time they made a risky decision to go for it on fourth down at their own 18 and the run was stuffed for a loss and a turnover on downs.

The next drive on third and three, Crosby’s relentless pursuit led to a sack and a three-and-out. The next drive, Crosby was in Herbert’s face as he threw and was intercepted by Casey Hayward.

A field goal made it 29-14 with just over eight minutes left. The Chargers went on two long drives, but Crosby did everything in his power to stop them. He had a QB hit on third and six for an incompletion. Later, with the Chargers with a first down at the 12, he sacked Herbert for an 11-yard loss. They would end up converting on fourth and 21 to score the touchdown.

On the final drive that lasted 19 plays, Crosby had two QB hits that resulted in incompletions. He put up ten pressures in this game, putting him over 100 pressures on the season (101). His two sacks gave him eight on the season, surpassing his 2020 total (seven).

RB Josh Jacobs

Despite still fighting through a rib injury, Jacobs just seemed to get better as this game went along. He had 20 yards rushing at the half. By the end of regulation, he had 67 yards. And in the overtime period alone, he had 69 yards rushing.

Jacobs scored the Raiders’ second touchdown of the day from one yard out.

Following the Hayward interception, Jacobs broke off a ten-yard run, then a seven-yard run and a five-yard run that put them in scoring range and the Raiders added a field goal to take a 29-14 lead.

He was nearly the Raiders’ entire offense in the overtime period. He broke off a 28-yard run followed by an 18-yard run that put the Raiders in field goal range inside the 30.

On the final drive, he had a seven-yard run and a six-yard run. At that point, the Raiders were content to run out the clock rather than even attempt what would be a 57-yard field goal, but the Chargers called a timeout and out of it, Jacobs burst through for ten yards. Making for a 47-yard attempt, which is far more manageable and it was the game-winner.

K Daniel Carlson

That game-winner was off the leg of Daniel Carlson. It was the fifth such field goal by Carlson in this game. He also had field goals from 24, 31, 52, and 40 yards out along with three extra points. He misses any of those and we might be telling a different story about this game. But he didn’t. Because he doesn’t in that building. He is lights out at Allegiant.

DT Quinton Jefferson, DT Darius Philon

The first drive of the third quarter saw the Chargers reach the 22-yard-line. They were down 17-14, so they were set up to at least tie the game. But then on second down, Jefferson crashed the pocket to sack Herbert for a ten-yard loss. It turned what would have been a manageable field goal outside of 50 yards and Dustin Hopkins would miss it.

The next possession, they were stuck inside their own 20-yard-line. On third and one, Philon got in on the stop for no gain. The Chargers shocked everyone by going for it on fourth and one and Philon was there again, this time stuffing the run for a loss to give the Raiders the ball at the 16-yard-line.

On the Hayward interception, it was Crosby who got in Herbert’s face on the pass, but it was Jefferson who got the initial pressure. Jefferson would had three more pressures on the Chargers’ final drive of regulation including a hit. All resulting in incompletions.

WR Hunter Renfrow

The first big pass play of the game was the 47-yarder by Foster Moreau. That pass went about five yards in the air, but Moreau was off to the races in part because of a find block Renfrow laid to allow him to get up to speed and find some space. On the next play, in first and goal at the seven, Renfrow’s moves led to a holding penalty to make it first and goal at the three. Unfortunately, it didn’t lead to a touchdown.

Later in the first quarter, off a turnover on special teams, the Raiders were once again in the red zone. This time they converted. And the series of moves the Renfrow put on this time shook CB Michael Davis out of his shoes making for an easy touchdown. Or at least he made it look easy.

Late in the third quarter, the Raiders would drive back in the red zone. And in third and goal from the two, Renfrow again got the pass from Carr and he made the catch for the score.

To begin the overtime period, Josh Jacobs found open space on the right side and was able to turn it into a 28-yard gain thanks to a Renfrow block. That put the Raiders in LA territory and helped them move in range for a field goal to open the extra period.

Honorable Mention

QB Derek Carr — He played with house money for a while in this one. Nearly being picked off at the end of the first drive, overthrowing a wide-open Zay Jones to end the second possession only to get the ball back on a fumbled punt return, a terrible pass interference call on Chris Harris Jr that not only wasn’t actually a PI, but the ball wasn’t catchable, and late in the fourth Carr fumbled the ball after a double-clutch near his own goal line that Brandon Parker luckily recovered.

That said, Carr threw a couple of touchdowns and made two big throws in overtime to set up the game-winning field goal. He also extended a couple of plays in the game that led to positive results.

WR/RS Tyron Johnson — Johnson is the Raiders’ kick returner. But he also plays on coverage teams. And he made everyone aware of that when he batted the ball out of the hands of Andre Roberts to give the Raiders the ball back at the LA 23. That led to the Raiders’ first touchdown.

WR Bryan Edwards — With the Raiders leading 20-14 late in the third quarter, they set up in third and five. Carr moved around the pocket to keep the play alive and Edwards saw it, broke off his route and got open deep for a gorgeous 30-yard catch. That drive would lead to a touchdown to make it a two-score game early in the fourth. He also made a 17-yard catch to start out the Raiders’ game-winning drive in OT.

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Raiders Week 18 snap counts: Former Chargers make major contributions

Former Chargers make major contributions in Raiders big win

There are a lot of former Chargers on this Raiders team. Many of whom have been a big part of the Raiders this entire season. They were called upon for their most important task since joining the Silver & Black — take down their former team and lead the Raiders to the postseason. And that’s just what they did.

Leading the way at safety was Roderic Teamer who played every snap. Leading the way at cornerback, also playing every snap, was Casey Hayward. Leading the way at linebacker was Denzel Perryman, playing 80% of the snaps.

Brandon Facyson started at cornerback as well. He and Perryman finished first and second on the team in tackles. Facyson added two pass breakups.

Heyward had the team’s only interception on a deep interception while adding three pass breakups. While Tyron Johnson had the other takeaway, forcing a fumble on a punt return.

Darius Philon was lost to a serious knee injury, but in his time in the game, he still managed to lead all interior defensive linemen with four combined tackles. One of those was for a loss and he added a batted pass.

OFFENSE Spec Tms
Player Pos Num Pct Num Pct
Brandon Parker T 80 100% 7 21%
Kolton Miller T 80 100% 7 21%
Alex Leatherwood T 80 100% 7 21%
Andre James C 80 100% 0 0%
John Simpson G 75 94% 7 21%
Derek Carr QB 75 94% 0 0%
Zay Jones WR 71 89% 1 3%
Darren Waller TE 62 78% 1 3%
Josh Jacobs RB 57 71% 1 3%
Bryan Edwards WR 56 70% 1 3%
Hunter Renfrow WR 51 64% 4 12%
Foster Moreau TE 49 61% 20 61%
Jalen Richard RB 24 30% 2 6%
Derek Carrier TE 12 15% 28 85%
DeSean Jackson WR 8 10% 0 0%
Marcus Mariota QB 7 9% 0 0%
Lester Cotton G 5 6% 0 0%
Tyron Johnson WR 4 5% 9 27%
Sutton Smith FB 4 5% 5 15%
DEFENSE Spec Tms
Player Pos Num Pct Num Pct
Trevon Moehrig FS 93 100% 14 42%
Roderic Teamer CB 93 100% 8 24%
Casey Hayward CB 93 100% 0 0%
Nate Hobbs CB 82 88% 12 36%
Maxx Crosby DE 82 88% 5 15%
Yannick Ngakoue DE 75 81% 0 0%
Denzel Perryman LB 74 80% 0 0%
Divine Deablo LB 66 71% 9 27%
Solomon Thomas DT 58 62% 5 15%
Brandon Facyson CB 50 54% 13 39%
Quinton Jefferson DT 50 54% 5 15%
Desmond Trufant CB 43 46% 2 6%
Darius Philon DT 35 38% 3 9%
Dallin Leavitt FS 33 35% 26 79%
Johnathan Hankins NT 29 31% 1 3%
Clelin Ferrell DE 25 27% 5 15%
K.J. Wright LB 22 24% 0 0%
Malcolm Koonce DE 15 16% 3 9%
Kyle Wilber LB 4 4% 25 76%
Keisean Nixon CB 1 1% 20 61%
SPECIAL TEAMS Spec Tms
Player Pos Num Pct Num Pct
Cory Littleton LB 0 0% 17 52%
William Compton LB 0 0% 17 52%
Tyree Gillespie SS 0 0% 16 48%
Daniel Carlson K 0 0% 15 45%
Trent Sieg LS 0 0% 11 33%
AJ Cole III P 0 0% 11 33%
Nick Martin C 0 0% 7 21%
Jermaine Eluemunor G 0 0% 7 21%
Peyton Barber RB 0 0% 5 15%

‘I’m the closer’: Josh Jacobs runs Raiders into playoffs with a victory, sends Chargers home

Josh Jacobs ignores his injured ribs to put team on his back in OT ‘I told them ‘I’m the closer. That’s what y’all brought me here for. Let me close.’

Playoffs. A word that has been used just once in nearly two decades to describe the Raiders. And the other time doesn’t really count considering they did so while field a rookie making his first ever start. This time it feels more real. It also was won the hardest way possible.

Twice in this game the Raiders took a two-score lead only to watch as the Chargers erased it. First it was a 10-0 lead that became a 14-10 deficit. Then it was a 29-14 lead that turned into a 29-29 tie that headed to overtime.

The manner in which the lead was lost at the end of the game was absolutely unreal.

It was Casey Hayward picking off Justin Herbert on a deep pass that set up the field goal that put the Raiders up by 15. And the rest of regulation was all Chargers.

There was 8:23 left on the clock and the Chargers would use over six minutes of that on two drives that featured a total of 33 plays. Among those 33 plays, they converted five fourth downs and two third downs.

The final drive in particular was insane and ended with a 12-yard touchdown pass by Justin Herbert with no time left on the clock.

Suddenly what seemed like a lead that was one play away from being too much for the Chargers to overcome was a new game.

That’s when Josh Jacobs put on his cape.

“When the four-minute came before overtime, I told them ‘I’m the closer. That’s what y’all brought me here for. Let me close.’,” Jacobs said after the game. “And when we got the opportunity and they tied the game and we went to overtime, I looked at Oly (Greg Olson) and I said ‘It’s time’ and we collectively came together – the offensive line, DC (Derek Carr), everybody – and just made it happen.”

Jacobs would seem like an unlikely hero. He has been fighting through a rib injury for several weeks and was questionable coming into the game because of it. But it never kept him from playing. After all, for the first time this late in the season, he had something to fight for.

“I feel like we kind of knew what was at stake,” Jacobs said. “I’ve never been in the playoffs since I’ve been in the league. . . I told them there’s no way I don’t play in this game. Hurt or not they were going to get everything out of me. That’s how it played out. It was amazing for real.”

Make no mistake, Jacobs was hurting. Even if it may have seemed like he was riding adrenaline and feeling no pain, he assured me that was not the case.

“Naw, you feel it,” Jacobs assured me. “I feel it right now. You feel it when you breathe, you know what I’m saying? I get winded and I feel it. It’s just one of them where I was constantly talking to myself each play. Getting helped up off the ground, I was just talking to myself, like ‘ok, it’s this much time on the clock, so this is what we need.’ I would’ve felt like I let my team down if I went out there and let the pain get to me and give up. So many guys play with injuries on our team. So many guys have little things that are going on, I feel like they deserve my all. And I tried to come out there and give it to them today.”

At the end of regulation, Jacobs had 67 yards on 19 carries (3.5 yards per carry). And in light of his injuries, no one would have been surprised or thought less of him if he was unable to continue to be the workhorse back and someone else had to step up in the overtime period.

That’s not how it went down.

Jacobs came out in the overtime period and put up more yards than he had in the entire rest of the game combined.

His first two runs of the overtime period went for 28 yards and 18 yards to set the Raiders up for a go-ahead 40-yard field goal.

From there the Chargers had their shot, driving to tie the game back up at 32-32, which meant the next score would win it. Or if no one else scored, the game would end in a tie.

That tie possibility was a real one. Mainly because win or tie, the Raiders were playoff bound. The only difference would be, if they wanted to send the Chargers home or the Steelers. A tie and the Chargers get in too. A win and the Chargers are done, while punching the Steelers’ ticket. That was something interim head coach Rich Bisaccia had considered.

“It was a conversation. We were talking about it,” said Bisaccia.

Whether the Raiders let the game end in a tie was dependent upon whether the Chargers could stop the run. They knew their best option was to keep the ball on the ground to avoid the risk of a turnover and run the clock out. If the Chargers stop it, the clock runs out and both teams are in the playoffs. If they don’t, the Raiders go for the win.

They didn’t stop them.

In third and four from the LA 39-yard-line, Jacobs broke through again for ten yards. And suddenly not only could the Raiders run out the clock, but at the end of it, they would have the chance to get the W.

Jacobs would add 69 yards on seven carries in the overtime period to finish with a season-high 132 yards on 26 carries (5.1 yards per carry). And the last one was for the win.

“You could see the way Josh was running. I think he had that little extra tonight,” said wide receiver Hunter Renfrow. “I think everybody played so well, and it was a total team effort, but the way Josh ran and closed the game out was special.”

Jacobs was the closer the Raiders needed. He closed out the Chargers season. And opened the door for the Raiders first playoff berth since 2016 and the first in nearly two decades where they think they might actually be able to keep it rolling. Lots of pain with potentially a lot more gain.

They will face the Bengals in the first round of the playoffs. On to Cincinnati.

Watch: Raiders WR Hunter Renfrow with filthy move for TD catch vs Chargers

You’re gonna want to see this nasty move Hunter Renfrow made to get open for the TD.

It’s quickly a 10-0 lead for the Raiders against the Chargers Sunday night. The touchdown was to, who else, but Hunter Renfrow. And the move he made to absolutely destroy Michael Davis and free himself up was downright nasty.

The Raiders scored on their opening drive with a big catch and run by Foster Moreau to put them in first and goal. They got a field goal out of it to take a 3-0 lead.

Then after stopping the Chargers for a three-and-out and being stopped themselves, the Raiders punted it away. On the return, former Chargers return man Tyron Johnson knocked the ball out of the hands of Andre Roberts and the Raiders recovered at the LA 23-yard-line.

A few plays later, including a 4th down conversion, the Carr to Renfrow touchdown happened to put the Raiders up 10-0.

It’s just the kind of start the Raiders hoped for in this crucial matchup for both teams as the winner heads to the playoffs and the loser heads home for the offseason.

Raiders vs Chargers: It’s only fitting it all comes down to this

It’s only fitting it all comes down to Raiders vs Chargers. And we wouldn’t want it any other way.

That stage has been set. Raiders vs Chargers. Win and you’re in. Lose and you’re out. And we wouldn’t have it any other way.

There was a chance this game wouldn’t have been for the Raiders’ playoff lives. And it came as close as it could have possibly come to this game not holding the stakes that it holds.

What we knew coming into today was that should the Steelers and Colts both lose, the Raiders would have their playoff ticket punched before ever taking the field. The Colts indeed lost to the Jaguars — a scenario that seemed highly unlikely not long ago.

From there it came down to the Steelers vs Ravens. We all watched in anticipation because if the Ravens pulled out the win, the Raiders were in. At that point, they would simply be playing to knock the Chargers out and raise their own playoff seeding.

The Ravens and Steelers went to overtime, just to add to the suspense. But in the end, the Steelers pulled it out, setting up the Sunday Night game between the Raiders and Chargers to decide the final playoff spot.

With the tributes to John Madden surrounding the stadium and Madden’s family set to light the Al Davis Torch, Allegiant Stadium is buzzing.

In so many ways, this game is big for the Raiders. They needed to win three straight games coming in to even be in the position right now where they could get in. Had they lost any of the last three, they’d be playing for pride right now.

Playing for pride into the season finale is something the Raiders are downright sick of. They’ve made the playoffs just once since 2002; which is approaching two decades now.

It was always going to come down to beating a division rival. That’s how the NFL has set it up, ensuring that each team plays a division foe in the season finale. But that it’s the Chargers, adds another element to this.

The Raiders’ success this season is due in large part to the former Chargers players and coaches they acquired last offseason.

Gus Bradley came over as Defensive Coordinator, bringing along with him several of his Chargers defensive staff as well.

Bradley’s arrival had a few of his defenders from LA join him. In particular guys like Casey Hayward and Denzel Perryman.

Hayward is the team’s best defensive back and Perryman went to the Pro Bowl this season as the league’s top tackler.

Other former Chargers include CB Brandon Facyson, DT Darius Philon, DT Damion Square. DB Roderic Teamer, and WR/RS Tyron Johnson.

You can bet they want badly to show their former team they made a mistake in letting them leave and there would be no better way to do that than to send them home while continuing on to the playoffs with their new squad.

Hayward was among four Raiders who were Questionable for the game along with TE Darren Waller, RB Josh Jacobs, and DT Johnathan Hankins. And all four are playing.

Waller is the key name there as he makes his return after missing the past five weeks with knee and back injuries and then being placed on the reserve/COVID-19 list. No better time to get him back than for this game.

The Chargers are as healthy as they come, fielding a team that looks almost identical to their week one lineup. So, the Raiders will be getting their best.

It all comes down to this. For the chance at the dance. Buckle up, everyone. Let’s go.

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Raiders, Chargers Week 18 injury report: CB Casey Hayward Questionable with ankle injury

CB Casey Hayward showed up on Raiders injury report Friday, suffering an ankle injury that has him officially Questionable vs his former team

There was a new addition to the Raiders injury report Friday and it’s a big one. Casey Hayward showed up as limited Friday with an ankle injury and is officially Questionable for Sunday Night’s season finale against the Chargers.

Hayward has been the Raiders’ best defensive back this season. And he’d undoubtedly come to play against his former team in a make-or-break game for both teams’ playoff hopes. Now his status is up in the air which is not at all what the Raiders want to hear right now.

Others who are Questionable for the Raiders include TE Darren Waller (knee), RB Josh Jacobs (ribs), and DT Johnathan Hankins (back). Interim head coach Rich Bisaccia addressed the status of all three players Friday. You can read his words here.

The Chargers are looking fairly healthy. Center Corey Linsley (back) had missed Wednesday’s practice only to practice full the past couple days and be removed from the injury report altogether.

The only players with designations for the Chargers are DL Joe Gaziano (ankle) who is OUT, and LB Drue Tranquill (ankle) who is Questionable.

Raiders TE Darren Waller, DT Johnathan Hankins to be game-time decisions vs Chargers

We won’t know until the lead-up to Sunday Night’s game whether the Raiders will have TE Darren Waller and DT Johnathan Hankins vs Chargers

Getting Darren Waller back this week could be big. Just his return to practice this week has brought some excitement. But we’re far from being out of the woods with Waller. Whether he is available for the game will not be known until hours beforehand.

“For Darren, we’ll kind of see what the soreness level is tomorrow morning when he comes in and what the rest of the walk-thrus look like for him and how he feels Sunday morning will explain whether he’s up or not or the amount of work he gets in the game,” Interim Head Coach Rich Bisaccia said Friday. “Just kind of waiting for the next few days to see how he feels after the three days of a few reps during each period.”

Bisaccia added that Waller actually saw more work in Thursday’s walk-thru than on Friday. And it’s important to also consider that even if Waller is able to go, he will probably be on a snap count as it’s been a while since he practiced fully.

“He worked a little bit harder the day before and we’re really just waiting each morning to see what his soreness level is and how he feels that he can possible get through it,” Bisaccia continued. “If he does go and can play for us, we’re certainly going to be cognizant of where his cardio is and take as much information from him, not only the game, but we have for practice as well, the reps that he gets.”

Also limited in practice today were running back Josh Jacobs (ribs) and defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins (back). Hankins, who missed the game last week in Indianapolis, will be reevaluated Saturday morning. Jacobs’s issue is one he’s been dealing with for a while. According to Bisaccia, it’s a pain tolerance issue for Jacobs.

“That’s been kind of what its been actually for him for a few weeks,” Bisaccia said of Jacobs fighting through the injury. “It’s an interior issue on his body and he’s done a good job of dealing with it, he’s done a good job of working on treatment in the training room and we have a full expectation that he’ll be ready to go. We’ll certainly be smart with his reps as well.”

All three players saw only a couple reps early in today’s practice as the team is trying to be careful with them. They have one more shot to get into the playoffs and could certainly use their Pro Bowl tight end, workhorse running back, and starting nose tackle in that game.

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