Friday was not only this week’s final injury report, it was also the Raiders ’final injury report of the season. On the right front, Trent Brown is officially out of the Raiders with a knee injury he suffered last week from defeats against the Dolphins. Jon Gruden said he was disappointed because Brown would not be available and missed so many games this season.
Left guard Denzelle Good also suffered an injury in this game, which is questionable for the game along with DT Maurice Hurst and CB Lamarcus Joyner.
Sam Young will be replaced by Brandon Parker as swing instrument. And if Young’s record this season is a clue, Parker needs to make sure he’s ready to get in.
Jon Gruden also seemed to think that rookie John Simpson would start doing the left guard instead of Good.
“Well, that’s a great assessment for John, no doubt,” Gruden said of his rookie fourth-round goalie. “He won’t even break it, but we like Simpson. He came off the bench and played well against New Orleans. For us he has played very well. He has had great mentors. For him walking with Jason Witten and Rodney Hudson and Gabe Jackson and Denzelle Good, incognito. I think he has had a real experience and I think it was very fast for him. I hope you see a better version of Simpson on Sunday than the one you saw before, but we really like it. “