QB Jimmy Garoppolo, CB Nate Hobbs both OUT Sunday for Raiders, no starters announced

QB Jimmy Garoppolo, CB Nate Hobbs both OUT Sunday for Raiders, no starters announced

Prior to Friday’s practice, Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels confirmed Jimmy Garoppolo will not play Sunday when the team travels to Chicago to face the Bills.

This would suggest Garoppolo will not be on the field for their final practice just as he had missed the first two practices this week with a back injury.

Garoppolo suffered the back injury in last Sunday’s game against the Patriots. He left the stadium via ambulance at half time and was replaced by veteran backup Brian Hoyer.

“It’s a medical decision,” said Josh McDaniels of Garopppolo’s non-availability for the game.

As to who will start in his place, McDaniels was tight lipped about it.

When Garoppolo missed a start earlier this season due to a concussion, it was rookie Aidan O’Connell who got the nod. But every game this season it has been Hoyer as the primary backup.

“Both guys are having a good week practicing,” McDaniels said Friday of Hoyer and O’Connell. “We’ll see how today goes and we’re just going to make the decision. At the end of the day both of them are going to be ready to go. I have confidence in both of them. The good thing is both of them have played already, so that’s a unique situation. In six games we’ve have three quarterbacks who have all competed in close games. So, I am confident in both of them.”

While it’s possible McDaniels is still making his decision on a starter, it’s more likely he’s already made his decision, but would rather not reveal that decision.

McDaniels also said cornerback Nate Hobbs will miss his fourth straight game with an ankle injury. His replacement will be a combination of Amik Robertson and Tyler Hall

Hall has been called up from the practice squad the past few weeks due to Hobbs being out. He held up well enough to this week earn being signed to the active roster. Both he and Robertson started the past two weeks.

Raiders, Bears Thursday injury report: QB Jimmy Garoppolo misses another practice

QB Jimmy Garoppolo misses another practice with back injury

Once again the Raiders were without starting quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo who suffered a back injury in last Sunday’s game against the Patriots. Also still missing for the Raiders is CB Nate Hobbs, though he’s been missing for a while now.

The Raiders aren’t alone in being without their starting QB and a starting defensive back. The Bears have been without Justin Fields for both of their practices this week. Also among those missing practice today was safety Eddie Jackson with a foot injury.

The Bears were also without OL Nate Davis, OL Dan Feeney, RB Roschon Johnson, DB Terrell Smith, OL Darnell Wright, and TE Marcedes Lewis.

Raiders, Bears Wednesday injury report: QB Jimmy Garoppolo misses practice with back injury

QB Jimmy Garoppolo missed practice Wednesday with back injury

Just prior to half time of the Raiders game against the Patriots last Sunday, Jimmy Garoppolo was hit in the side just after he threw the ball. He grimmaced in pain, but remained in the game for three more plays before exiting and not returning.

Garoppolo was taken off the field and loaded into an ambulance and taken to the hospital. The injury was ruled a back injury initially, but there was some fear or damage to internal organs so the QB was taken for testing and the results were at least positive in that regard.

“Seems like we’ve dodged a big bullet in that regard, so that’s good news,” McDaniels said about the results of the tests. “We’re still doing a couple things this morning and we’ll kind of make sure we do all the right things here as we go forward. But the prognosis is a lot better than it might have otherwise been. Don’t know yet for this week, relatively speaking. So, there’s a lot still to, I’d say, uncover in that regard. But good news relative to what it might have been.”

That is to say, Garoppolo may not be out of the woods in terms of his injury b being something that keeps him off the field. The first of the week’s three practices were without him.

Brian Hoyer replaced Garoppolo for the second half against the Patriots, but when Garoppolo had missed a game earlier this season with a concussion it was rookie Aidan O’Connell who started in his place. For that reason, it’s unclear which of the two QB’s Josh McDaniels would look to should Jimmy be unable to go.

The Bears were also without their starting quarterback Justin Fields who injured his right thumb. His head coach said earlier this week that it’s doubtful Fields will be able to go this week.

Raiders, Patriots final Week 6 injury report: CB Nate Hobbs to miss third straight

Raiders CB Nate Hobbs to miss third straight. Meanwhile the Pats are without WR JuJu Smith-Schuster and DE Matt Judon

It’s getting closer to the time when the Raiders will have wished they just sent Nate Hobbs to injured reserve. The third-year cornerback suffered an ankle injury in the days leading up to their Week four games against the Chargers that caused him to miss that game. Now he will miss his third straight game when a trip to IR would have meant he missed four games.

Hobbs’s absence obviously makes the Raiders short-handed on defense. He is the best cornerback on the roster and their primary slot cornerback. The first three weeks, he was a starter along with Marcus Peters and Jakorian Bennett. It’s possible that come Sunday, Peters could be the one of those three on the field.

Bennett is Questionable for the game after being limited all week with a shoulder injury.

Last week against the Packers, it was Tyler Hall and Amik Robertson who received the bulk of the snaps at cornerback and that figures to be the case again.

Missing for the Patriots is Pro Bowl defensive end Matthew Judon (elbow) along with wide receivers Demario Davis and JuJu Smith-Schuster who both are OUT with concussions. A number of other players are Questionable.

Raiders, Patriots Thursday injury report: CB Nate Hobbs still not practicing

CB Nate Hobbs still not practicing for Raiders

The Raiders hit the practice field today for their first full practice in their short week to prepare for the Patriots. Not among them once again was starting slot cornerback Nate Hobbs.

Hobbs has missed the past two games with n ankle injury he suffered in practice just prior to the team’s Week 4 game against the Chargers. The injury clearly wasn’t deemed serious enough initially to place him on injured reserve which would have had him out for four weeks.

The Patriots were without three players in their second practice of the week. Among them were Matt Judon (elbow), WR Demario Douglas (concussion) and WR JuJu Smith-Schuster (concussion).

Raiders, Packers Friday injury report: Jimmy Garoppolo returns from concussion protocol

Raiders, Packers Friday injury report: Jimmy Garoppolo returns from concussion protocol

After a week sidelined by a concussion, Raiders QB Jimmy Garoppolo is in line to return Week 5 for the team’s Monday Night matchup with the Green Bay Packers.

Less certain is the status of WR Davante Adams (shoulder) and CB Nate Hobbs (ankle). Neither has practiced this week as they nurse injuries.

Hobbs missed last Sunday’s game against the Chargers while Adams suffered his shoulder injury early in the contest, returning just before half time and playing the rest of the way.

Raiders, Packers Thursday injury report: WR Davante Adams misses practice

Raiders, Packers Thursday injury report: WR Davante Adams misses practice

After an extra dat of rest, the Raiders were back at it Thursday, starting their preparations for facing the Packers next Monday in Las Vegas.

Those preparations were without a couple of starters on each side of the ball. Davante Adams was missing with a shoulder injury he suffered in last Sunday’s loss to the Chargers. And Nate Hobbs was missing with an ankle injury he suffered late last week.

 

Adams returned to the game last Sunday after the injury scare. Thursday head coach Josh McDaniels said Adams and his shoulder are “doing better”.

“I’m not going to make any big prognostications in terms of that,” McDaniels continued. “but doing great, working at it and doing everything he can to get himself to where he wants to be. Won’t be out there today though.”

Davante spoke at the podium Thursday, which is a very good sign for his status this week.

Hobbs’s status is less certain. So too is the status of QB Jimmy Garoppolo who is still limited as he is still in the concussion protocol.

Raiders vs Chargers Thursday injury report: DE Maxx Crosby (knee) misses practice

Maxx Crosby (knee) misses practice while Jimmy Garoppolo (concussion) returns limited

Good news and bad news for the Raiders on Thursday. Good news was Jimmy Garoppolo returned to practice. He is still in the concussion protocol and was limited. Bad news is Maxx Crosby missed practice with a knee injury.

Crosby had been limited on Wednesday, but was downgraded Thursday.

The Chargers were also without their best pass rusher. Joey Bosa has missed both practices so far this week with hamstring and toe injuries.

Also missing for the Chargers the past two days are TE Gerald Everett (illness), S Alohi Gilman (heel), S Derwin James (hamstring), and C Corey Linsley (illness).

All of the players missing for the Chargers are starters, so obviously any of them missing the game would be significant.

In addition, Austin Ekeler was limited while he continued to try and return from an ankle injury he suffered in the season opener.

Other Raiders players who missed practice were LB Curtis Bolton and S Roderic Teamer. Both are special teams standouts.

Raiders vs Chargers Wednesday injury report: QB Jimmy Garoppolo misses practice with concussion

QB Jimmy Garoppolo missed practice Wednesday with a concussion

As the Raiders prepare for their Week three matchup with the Chargers, they did so without their quarterback, who is in the concussion protocol.

Garoppolo played until the final snap for the Raiders in Sunday night’s loss to the Steelers, so it’s hard to say when exactly he suffered the concussion. The Raiders initially had him taking the podium after the game, but after waiting some time for him to come in, a Raiders official told us he would not be coming as he was being examined for a concussion.

Taking his reps in practice was veteran backup Brian Hoyer.

Also missing for the Raiders was special teams maven Curtis Bolton who left at half time of Sunday night’s game with a knee injury.

There were seven players missing from Chargers practice. How serious any of them are will become clearer Thursday when we see who was just getting a day of rest.

Raiders vs Steelers final injury report: DE Tyree Wilson (illness) Questionable

Raiders DE Tyree Wilson is officially Questionable with an illness vs Steelers

Friday saw Tyree Wilson a limited participant in practice. That was a step in the right direction for the rookie edge rusher who missed Wednesday and Thursday with an undisclosed illness. The team has officially listed him as Questionable for Sunday’s home opener against the Steelers.

It wouldn’t be a the worst thing if Wilson were to be shut down for Sunday’s game. Even at full strength over the first two games this season, he has a 0% win rate. If he is not 100%, that would not help things in that area.

Wilson was playing as much as he was because Chandler Jones has been out with personal issues. With Jones placed on the Non-Football Illness list, the top option to start at DE across from Maxx Crosby is Malcolm Koonce with practice squad DE Isaac Rochell again called up to rotate in.

The only player on the Steelers injury report is WR Gunner Olszewski who is Out with a concussion.