Raiders could be severely short-handed up front on defense in Week 5
By Brad Weiss
With Maurice Hurst on the reserve/COVID list, and Maliek Collins missing practice, the Las Vegas Raiders defensive front could be short-handed.
Coming off two straight losses, the Las Vegas Raiders will try to right the ship against the defending Super Bowl champions on Sunday in Kansas City. The undefeated Chiefs have been an impossible mountain to overcome at home for the Raiders since Derek Carr took over as the starting quarterback, and while he could get some key offensive pieces back for Week 5, the defense is reeling.
This is a team that has allowed 30 points in three of their first four games, including two in a row after their stunning victory over New Orleans in Week 2. Next up, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs, and they may have to pull off the shocking upset without two of their key defensive tackles.
Hurst to COVID list, Collins out
First came the news that Maurice Hurst, who has become a dominant figure up front on the Raiders defense, would be placed on the reserve/COVID list. The news came as quite a shock, as he played in the team’s loss to the Buffalo Bills on Sunday, but would test positive for the virus on Tuesday.
Then, when Wednesday’s injury report came out, fellow defensive tackle Maliek Collins did not participate in practice, as he was listed with a shoulder issues and an illness. The illness was not COVID-related, as any of those issues have to be reported as such.
If they both cannot go on Sunday, that leaves Johnathan Hankins and Kendall Vickers as the only defensive tackle remaining, though Clelin Ferrell plays inside as well. Las Vegas does have guys on their practice squad they can bring up, but none of them possess the talent of a Hurst or Collins.
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Kansas City has arguably the most potent offense in the NFL, so the Raiders missing any key pieces of their defense could prove to be impossible to overcome. As it stands, Collins, Hurst, and cornerback Damon Arnette would miss on Sunday, and that has to be music to Patrick Mahomes’ ears.