It’s Week 17 and COVID has wreaked havoc on the Las Vegas Raiders and the NFL. The Raiders have now placed 13 players on the COVID-19 reserve list in the last week, including nine defensive players and star tight end Darren Waller.
Waller was set to return to practice in a limited capacity today for the first time since the Raiders’ Week 13 matchup in Dallas. Thanksgiving was the last time Waller stepped foot onto the field with his team. Raider Nation has been anxiously counting down the days to his return. Now, they will have to wait a little while longer.
Because of the NFL’s new updated protocols and the Raiders’ being 100% vaccinated, Waller is only required to self-isolate for five days. That is, provided he is asymptomatic or his symptoms improve over the next five days.
Regardless of these new protocols, Waller will miss Sunday’s matchup in Indianapolis. This is his fifth missed game in a row.
Along with Waller, the Raiders have placed KJ Wright, Roderic Teamer, Darius Philon, Denzel Perryman, Patrick Onwuasor, and Marcus Mariota on the COVID-19 reserve list. They also added Cory Littleton, Casey Hayward Jr., Brandon Facyson, Jermaine Eluemunor, Bryan Edwards, and Will Compton. Yikes.
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*Top Photo: Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images