Raiders balance Las Vegas move with pandemic

Dealing with an offseason move to Las Vegas, an overhaul of his defense and contending in a division with Patrick Mahomes and defending Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs is a tough eugh task for Raiders coach Jon Gruden.

It all pales in comparison to trying to keep his players safe from COVID-19 in a city where coronavirus is spreading.

“One mistake can bring us all down in a real bad way,” Gruden said Thursday. “It’s t just becoming to football; it can create a terrible illness. So I want to dominate when we leave building. We want to crush this virus. We want to beat this virus into ground, and I can use those words because it’s t on our schedule but it is an opponent that we have t been able to beat. It can really break you down physically. I kw a lot of people that have had it and have it, and it’s an awful thing and we don’t want to have anything to do with it but beat it.”

Raiders have weared issues fairly well so far. players have decided to opt out of season for safety reasons and backup running back Devontae Booker is only player placed on reserve/COVID-19 list after first round of testing for rookies and veterans.

Gruden said mess has been sent that players will be evaluated as much for how y conduct mselves off field to stay out of dangerous situations as for how y do on practice field.

“We take full responsibility and accountability in each or,” rookie receiver Henry Ruggs III said. “We kw that we’re all safe if we’re around each or and at home. So pretty much we’re just trying to keep that circle, keep us with just team. That way we can stay on football side and keep learning and things like that. Or than that, just home and stay on your own. Get into your playbook. Get your rest and come back good again.”

While all teams are dealing with many of se issues, Raiders have particular challenges because of ir relocation.

y had planned to spend offseason still in Bay Area and n hold training camp as usual in California’s wine country. Players also would have had time to figure out ir plans for move to Las Vegas.

But offseason program got canceled and Gruden and his staff weren’t allowed in team’s new facility in Nevada until late June.

Several players led by quarterback Derek Carr led informal offseason workouts in Las Vegas area but many of players didn’t move into ir new homes until more recently.

Gruden said he still hasn’t met top free nt addition Cory Littleton.

“We are t lone ranger,” he said. “Everybody in league is going through this. We have to do best we can. It’s t going to be most equitable, fairest season. Some teams are going to be hit hard by this virus, some teams might t. Some teams might have fans, some teams might have cardboard cutouts. I don’t kw but we just got to deal with it. We got to try to be creative.”

pandemic also has taken away some of fanfare of move.

team had expected to wine and dine free nts in Las Vegas this offseason only to have that idea wiped out when league went into lockdown because of pandemic.

draft in April that was scheduled to be on Strip as NFL’s first major event in Las Vegas was held remotely instead.

new practice facility opened quietly with only a handful of staffers allowed in at start.

w team’s fancy new stadium might t be able to have any fans for its first season.

“It’s just been hard,” Gruden said. “I’m worried about my kids, my mom and dad, my family, my brors, my friends and I’m worried about all our players. I’m really worried about Las Vegas; I love this place. We were er to have draft here. We are er to make some friends here and have some real exciting times as we make our move here. We have best facility, best stadium I’ve ever seen in my life and I’ve seen a lot, having been a former broadcaster. I miss being around people. I’m a handsy guy, I like to hug people and high-five m. It’s been tough on America, it’s been tough on world and I just want to keep reiterating that to our players. We got to beat virus. That’s our challenge right w. We got to beat virus right w to have a chance to play.”

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