When the Raiders take the field for their first game in Las Vegas, they might have Henry Ruggs in the lineup. He’s questionable after returning to practice.
Ruggs had a 45-yard touchdown in the first quarter against Carolina but later suffered a knee injury in that game. He was able to return later in the game, but didn’t have much of a role in the second half.
Ruggs didn’t practice at all on Thursday or Friday. After returning as a limited participant today, they’re calling him questionable. Probably best to avoid him at that designation. If he plays, he might be less than 100 percent, serving as more of a decoy. (That said, he looked very explosive on that early catch Sunday.)
With Ruggs in the mix to potentially play, it makes it less appealing to take a wild stab at Hunter Renfrow perhaps getting back to the busy kind of role he was filling late last year (when he averaged 5 catches in his last seven full games).
The Saints will be without two starters in this game: Michael Thomas and defensive end Marcus Davenport. With Thomas out, they’ll need others to play a larger role in the passing game. Emmanuel Sanders, Jared Cook and Alvin Kamara, for sure. And TreQuan Smith probably will play in more of a starter-type role. If you’re in need of a Week 2 receiver, Smith would be one to consider. The Raiders were pretty leaky defensive in their opener, and they had problems stopping people last year (allowing 33 TD passes).
The wild card for the Saints is Marquez Callaway, a rookie free agent out of Tennessee. The depth chart at the team’s website indicates that Callaway is the backup behind Thomas (with Smith listed as the backup behind Sanders). But with a week to prepare, we’re thinking it will be Smith who’ll have a more meaningful role on Monday night.
New Orleans also has ruled out backup linebacker Chase Hansen.
The Raiders have additional injury issues, with three players listed as doubtful. That includes both their starting right tackle and his backup – Trent Brown and Sam Young. And Las Vegas almost certainly will be without starting middle linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski.
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS at LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
NEW ORLEANS SAINTS
OUT: DE Marcus Davenport (elbow), LB Chase Hansen (hip), WR Michael Thomas (ankle)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Thursday: DE Marcus Davenport (elbow), WR Emmanuel Sanders (not injury related), WR Michael Thomas (ankle)
Friday: DE Marcus Davenport (elbow), WR Emmanuel Sanders (not injury related), WR Michael Thomas (ankle)
Saturday: DE Marcus Davenport (elbow), LB Chase Hansen (hip), WR Michael Thomas (ankle)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday: G Cesar Ruiz (ankle)
Friday: LB Chase Hansen (hip)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday: S P.J. Williams (hamstring)
Friday: G Cesar Ruiz (ankle), S P.J. Williams (hamstring)
Saturday: G Cesar Ruiz (ankle), S P.J. Williams (hamstring)
LAS VEGAS RAIDERS
DOUBTFUL: T Trenton Brown (calf), LB Nick Kwiatkoski (pectoral), T Sam Young (groin)
QUESTIONABLE: WR Henry Ruggs (knee), G John Simpson (shoulder)
DID NOT PARTICIPATE IN PRACTICE
Thursday: T Trenton Brown (calf), C Rodney Hudson (not injury related), G Richie Incognito (Achilles, not injury related), LB Nick Kwiatkoski (pectoral), WR Henry Ruggs (knee), TE Jason Witten (not injury related), T Sam Young (groin)
Friday: T Trenton Brown (calf), CB Lamarcus Joyner (not injury related), LB Nick Kwiatkoski (pectoral), WR Henry Ruggs (knee), T Sam Young (groin)
Saturday: T Trenton Brown (calf), LB Nick Kwiatkoski (pectoral), T Sam Young (groin)
LIMITED PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Friday: G Richie Incognito (Achilles), G John Simpson (shoulder)
Saturday: G Richie Incognito (Achilles), WR Henry Ruggs (knee), G John Simpson (shoulder)
FULL PARTICIPATION IN PRACTICE
Thursday: CB Damon Arnette (wrist, thumb), RB Josh Jacobs (ankle), DE Arden Key (knee)
Friday: CB Damon Arnette (wrist, thumb), RB Josh Jacobs (ankle), DE Arden Key (knee)
Saturday: CB Damon Arnette (wrist, thumb), RB Josh Jacobs (ankle), CB Lamarcus Joyner (not injury related), DE Arden Key (knee)