With starter Richie Incognito put on the injured reserve, rookie offensive guard John Simpson needs to have a standout game in Week 3.
The Las Vegas Raiders selected Clemson offensive guard John Simpson with the No. 109 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft. During his career with the Tigers, Simpson established himself as one of the best guards in the country, and many had him as one of, if not the best guard in the 2020 draft class.
Falling to the Raiders in the fourth round, the drafting of Simpson brought whispers that the team may move on from Gabe Jackson, but they rightfully hung on to him. That meant the Raiders would go into the 2020 season with their entire offensive line from last season returning, but we have learned quickly that things change in a hurry at the NFL level.
Trent Brown was injured in Week 1, and has still not returned, and Richie Incognito, Jackson’s counterpart along the starting offensive line, was placed on injured reserve this week. Incognito was injured during the Raiders surprising victory over New Orleans, a game that saw Simpson step in and get his first NFL action.
Simpson held his own for the Raiders against the Saints
The Las Vegas Raiders did not skip a beat when Incognito went down on Monday night, scoring on six of seven possessions with Simpson in the lineup. The Silver and Black scored four touchdowns, and kicked two field goals, and Simpson did more than hold his own against one of the better defensive lines in the NFL.
New England will be a new task for Simpson, who was a two-time national title winner at Clemson, but he has the size, and strength to get it done. This is a Raiders offensive line that has been not only impressive, but deep, and disciplined, and that has helped this offense score 34 points in back-to-back games.
Las Vegas could move Simpson to the right side, and slide Jackson over to the left, but Tom Cable may want to just move the one piece. In addition, the Raiders are without their starting right tackle in Brown, so Cable may want the insurance of Jackson on the right, and Kolton Miller, who is rounding into a top offensive tackle, with Simpson on the left.
There is definitely going to be a learning curve for Simpson, and Sunday will be a big test against a very good New England Patriots team. Bill Belichick is going to scheme to see what the young man can do, and while he may get beat a time or two, I would think that Simpson is definitely up to the task.