How Raiders compensate for likely loss of Trent Brown, Nick Kwiatkoski and Sam Young vs. Saints

Right tackle Trent Brown, middle linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski and backup tackle Sam Young were all officially listed as doubtful Saturday.

And while it’s all well and good that coach Jon Gruden remains optimisitc one or all could play Monday night against the New Orleans Saints, the Raiders will almost certainly be playing without them in their first game in Allegiant Stadium.

According to the data driven site footballoutsiders.com, 99 percent of players listed as doubtful from 2016 to 2019 did not play.

“I see a lot of improvement and I’m going to remain hopeful,” Gruden said. “That’s the best I can do right now.”

Brown left after three snaps in Week 1 against Carolina with a calf injury, Kwiatkoski (pectoral) was gone after 22 snaps and Young played 15 before leaving with a groin strain.

Rookie wide receiver Henry Ruggs III, who injured a knee and did not touch the ball after halftime in Week 1, practiced in a limited fashion for the first time this week and was listed as questionable.

Assuming Brown, Kwiatkoski and Young are all inactive, here are the players who will step into the breach:

Denzelle Good: Following a heroic effort against the Panthers, stepping in at right tackle after Brown and Young went down after working almost exclusively at guard, Good gets a week of practice under his belt to give it another go.

Yet it’s a much more difficult task. Cameron Jordan, the left end for the Saints out of Cal, is a five-time Pro Bowl selection with 97 career sacks.

Nicholas Morrow: Although not a true middle linebacker, Morrow got most of the work after Kwiatkoski went out alongside Cory Littleton in nickel situations when two linebackers played. The Raiders could also step up the use of Raekwon McMillian, a true inside player who played six snaps against the Panthers.

Given the Saints use of Alvin Kamara out of the backfield, Jared Cook at tight end and the positionless but dangerous Taysom Hill, it’s a big challenge for both the Raiders linebackers and safeties to discern where quarterback Drew Brees will go with the ball.

Brandon Parker: Inactive the first week, Parker was a third-round draft pick out of North Carolina A&T who started 12 games as a rookie, three more last season and has yet to establish himself. He’ll be next up if either left tackle Kolton Miller or Good go down.

“He’s been working for the last couple of yeras as a swing tackle, thats a hard job for anybody,” Gruden said. “We think hes improving and if he needs to play he’ll get a chance to prove it.”

Andre James, the backup at center to Rodney Hudson, could be pressed into action as a swing guard behind left guard Richie Incognito and right guard Gabe Jackson.

As for Ruggs, it remains to be seen whether he’ll be full go at wide receiver and be available for the array of deep routes, quick screens and fly sweeps that marked the first half of his first game or if play limited snaps and be more of a decoy.

If the latter is the case, Nelson Agholor, who played snaps and caught the only pass thrown to him for a 34-yard touchdown against Carolina, would get increased work with Zay Jones also available.

A HILL TO CLIMB

Gruden broke in to mock broadcaster mode when assessing the challenge of facing Hill, the 6-foot-2, 212-pound do-it-all talent used in creative ways by coach Sean Payton.

Against Tampa Bay in Week 1, HIll ran three times for 13 yards, caught a pass for 14 yards and completed one for 38. A college quarterback, Hill is liable to line up anywhere.

“It’s a sophisticated problem because of all the things he can do,” Gruden said. “In my lifetime, I don’t remember a quarterback that can throw and run read options, then line up at tight end. This guy is a weapon. He’s a special teams demon. He can be the personal protector on the punt team.”

Then Gruden seemed to enjoy himself in enunciating the “foot” in giving Hill a nod of respect for his all-around skills.

You can just see how much Jon Gruden loves watching Taysom Hill play. Two football guys. pic.twitter.com/IW7IcMaMeV

— Field Yates (@FieldYates) September 19, 2020

“He’s a great FOOTball player, a lot of guys call it. He’s a FOOTball player. The guy’s a FOOTball player. He can play anywhere on the FOOTball field,” Gruden sai. “You’ve got to be aware of No. 7 because he can ruin the game. They’ve got a great package to keep us off his scent. He’s a FOOTball player.”

Glad we got that cleared up.

MICHAEL THOMAS OUT

Although the Saints tried to float the idea midwweek that record-setting Michael Thomas could be ready to go Monday night, he was listed as out with an ankle sprain.

Thomas set an NFL record with 149 receptions last season and his four-season total of 473 recepetions (for 5,529 yards) is the most in in league history.

Defensive end Marcus Davenport is also out with an elbow injury.