Prior to Friday’s practice, Raiders head coach Josh McDaniels confirmed Jimmy Garoppolo will not play Sunday when the team travels to Chicago to face the Bills.
This would suggest Garoppolo will not be on the field for their final practice just as he had missed the first two practices this week with a back injury.
Garoppolo suffered the back injury in last Sunday’s game against the Patriots. He left the stadium via ambulance at half time and was replaced by veteran backup Brian Hoyer.
“It’s a medical decision,” said Josh McDaniels of Garopppolo’s non-availability for the game.
As to who will start in his place, McDaniels was tight lipped about it.
When Garoppolo missed a start earlier this season due to a concussion, it was rookie Aidan O’Connell who got the nod. But every game this season it has been Hoyer as the primary backup.
“Both guys are having a good week practicing,” McDaniels said Friday of Hoyer and O’Connell. “We’ll see how today goes and we’re just going to make the decision. At the end of the day both of them are going to be ready to go. I have confidence in both of them. The good thing is both of them have played already, so that’s a unique situation. In six games we’ve have three quarterbacks who have all competed in close games. So, I am confident in both of them.”
While it’s possible McDaniels is still making his decision on a starter, it’s more likely he’s already made his decision, but would rather not reveal that decision.
McDaniels also said cornerback Nate Hobbs will miss his fourth straight game with an ankle injury. His replacement will be a combination of Amik Robertson and Tyler Hall
Hall has been called up from the practice squad the past few weeks due to Hobbs being out. He held up well enough to this week earn being signed to the active roster. Both he and Robertson started the past two weeks.
