Henry Ruggs III was selected 12th overall in the 2020 NFL Draft; the rookie wide receiver posted 414 receiving yards and two touchdowns in 11 games; his designation means he will definitely miss Thursday's game against the Los Angeles Chargers
Wednesday 16 December 2020 19:31, UK
Henry Ruggs III has been placed on the Las Vegas Raiders' reserve/COVID-19 list, the team have announced.
The rookie wide receiver, the number 12 overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, will miss at least the Raiders' next game against the 4-9 Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday - live on Sky Sports.
The Raiders then host the Miami Dolphins before closing out their regular season schedule with a game against divisional rivals the Denver Broncos on January 3.
At 7-6, the Raiders are very much on the AFC playoff bubble and are currently outside the wildcard spots with three games remaining.
Their form has been poor though having lost three of their past four games, including a 44-27 loss to the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday, to leave their playoff hopes in the balance.
Ruggs ranks fourth on the Raiders with 414 receiving yards on 23 receptions, and is tied for third on the team with two touchdowns.
One of those scoring catches was the game-winner against the New York Jets in Week 13, while Ruggs has started 10 of the 11 games he's played in this season.
On Tuesday, the Raiders designated Takk McKinley for return from injured reserve and signed former Atlanta Falcons first-round draft selection Vic Beasley to the 53-man active roster.
The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are entering Week 15 without their special teams starters at their disposal.
Tampa Bay placed kicker Ryan Succop, punter Bradley Pinion and long snapper Zach Triner on the reserve/COVID-19 list, five days out from their Week 15 bout with the Atlanta Falcons.
It's not clear yet whether any of the three starters tested positive for COVID-19 or were simply close contacts with someone who tested positive. That designation will affect their statuses for Sunday's game.
Tampa Bay doesn't employ backups at kicker, punter or long snapper on the active roster but do boast kicker Greg Joseph on the practice squad.
The NFL will not use its influence to jump the queue for the coronavirus vaccine, the league's commissioner Roger Goodell said on Monday.
With the first doses of the Pfizer vaccine making its way across the United States this week, Goodell has downplayed the prospect of anyone in the league being prioritised over more vulnerable groups.
His comments come with the Super Bowl less than two months away.
"We are not planning on any of our personnel being vaccinated in advance of the Super Bowl," Goodell was quoted by ESPN.
"That's obviously being done at higher levels and given priority to obviously health care workers, first responders and those that are in the riskiest state.
"We don't fall into those categories, so we don't anticipate that and we're not planning for that."
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