Friday was not just the final injury report for this week, it was the Raiders’ final injury report for the season. On the right, Trent Brown is officially OUT for the Raiders with a knee injury he suffered in his loss last week to the Dolphins. Jon Gruden said he was disappointed that Brown was unavailable and missed so many games this season.
Also injured in that game was the owner Denzelle Good, questionable for the game alongside DT Maurice Hurst and CB Lamarcus Joyner.
Starting in Brown’s place will be Sam Young with Brandon Parker as the swing tackle. And if Young’s track record this season is any indication, Parker needs to make sure he is ready to enter.
Jon Gruden also seemed to think that newcomer John Simpson would be starting on the left guard in place of Good.
“Well, this is a big assessment for John, no doubt,” said Gruden of his debut guard in the fourth round. “It won’t make or break him, but we like Simpson. He got off the bench and played well against New Orleans. He played well in the matches for us. He had some great mentors. For him to walk around with Jason Witten and Rodney Hudson and Gabe Jackson and Denzelle Good, incognito. He had a real experience, I think, was great and I think that followed him quickly. I hope you see a better version of Simpson on Sunday than you did before, but we like him very much. “