Raiders place top cornerback Nate Hobbs on injured reserve

By Case Keefer (contact)

Monday, Oct. 17, 2022 | 2:59 p.m.

The Raiders might be the rare team to come back from their bye week more injured than they went into it — at least on defense.

The team lost one of their key defensive players Monday afternoon when they placed cornerback Nate Hobbs on injured reserve, meaning he will miss at least the next four games. Hobbs broke his hand, according to his own Instagram post, in a 30-29 Week 4 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. He exited with what was officially called a thumb injury at the time but re-entered wearing a cast that allowed him to finish the game.

“I told them to do whatever they had to do to put me back on the field (with) my brothers,” Hobbs wrote. “I’ll figure the rest out myself.”

Doctors must have decided recovery needed to be the priority and he couldn’t play through the injury going forward. Las Vegas could get some reinforcements back at cornerback ahead of Sunday’s home game against the Houston Texans with Anthony Averett eligible to come off injured reserve from a broken thumb.

But that might not make up for the loss of Hobbs as the second-year defensive back out of Illinois had likely been the Raiders’ second-best defensive player behind edge rusher Maxx Crosby so far this season. Hobbs had played both in the slot, where he spent his entire rookie season, and out wide while logging 28 tackles, two passes defensed and a forced fumble.

Averett would join a current cornerback contingent of Rock Ya-Sin, Amik Robertson and Sam Webb if he returns. The Raiders also signed veteran Tevaughn Campbell, who played the last three seasons with the Los Angeles Chargers, to their practice squad on Monday. Another veteran practice squad player, Javelin Guidry, was elevated to the active roster against the Chiefs.

Las Vegas had another notable injury in the Kansas City game as tight end Darren Waller left with a hamstring issue and did not return. Coach Josh McDaniels should issue an update Waller's status when the team returns to practice Wednesday at their Henderson headquarters.

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