Josh Jacobs, Johnathan Abram will not play at New York Jets

After they missed practice all week, Raiders running back Josh Jacobs and safety Johnathan Abram both have been ruled out of Sunday’s game at the New York Jets. Las Vegas Raiders’ coach Jon Gruden made the announcement Friday.

Jacobs hurt his ankle last week in a 43-6 loss at the Atlanta Falcons and Abram hurt his knee in the same game. On Monday, it was determined Jacobs has a sprained ankle, but he and Gruden were both confident he would play. By Friday, Gruden said he was optimistic that both Jacobs and Abram would be able to play earlier in the week, but he was “wrong.”

Devontae Booker will start for Jacobs with Jalen Richard and Theo Riddick backing him up. It will be Booker’s first start since his rookie year in 2016 when he started six games for the Denver Broncos. Booker has been good this season, averaging 5.5 yards per carry.

Defensive tackle Maurice Hurst, who has missed the past two games with an ankle injury, is questionable as are starting cornerback Trayvon Mullen (illness) and backup cornerback Isaiah Johnson (groin). Starting defensive end Clelin Ferrell will play after missing the past two games because of COVID issues.