Raiders add six players including Perryman, Hayward to COVID-19 list

By Case Keefer (contact)

Monday, Dec. 27, 2021 | 2:49 p.m.

The Raiders had avoided a large-scale COVID-19 outbreak that claimed a swath of the roster all season — until Monday. Las Vegas added six defensive players, including the entire starting linebacking corps, to the COVID-19 list this afternoon.

Linebacker Cory Littleton, linebacker Denzel Perryman, linebacker K.J. Wright, linebacker Patrick Onwuasor, defensive tackle Darius Philon and cornerback Casey Hayward are all currently unavailable to play in Sunday’s game at Indianapolis. Each player will need to test negative before Sunday to play in a game the Raiders must win to keep their playoff hopes alive.

Five other players — including quarterback Marcus Mariota, wide receiver Bryan Edwards and cornerback Brandon Facyson — were already on the COVID-19 list.

The NFL previously required two negative tests to come off the list but changed the protocols after a series of delayed Week 15 games including Las Vegas’ trip to Cleveland.

Indianapolis has 13 total players on the COVID-19 list including a pair of Pro Bowlers in guard Quenton Nelson and linebacker Darius Leonard, both of whom missed the team’s 22-16 win at the Cardinals on Saturday. All of the Raiders’ six newest players to test positive played in Las Vegas’ 17-13 win over Denver on Sunday.

Perryman and Hayward are the biggest losses, as they’ve been two of the Raiders’ best players all season. Perryman was recently named to his first Pro Bowl team, while Hayward was a controversial snub.

Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or [email protected]. Follow Case on Twitter at twitter.com/casekeefer.Case Keefer can be reached at 702-948-2790 or