Raiders tackle Trent Brown will not play in Week 17 against Broncos

The Las Vegas Raiders’ season will end with a familiar sight — the offensive line will take the field without highly-paid right tackle Trent Brown.

Las Vegas coach Jon Gruden announced on Friday that Brown will not play at the Denver Broncos on Sunday because of a knee injury. He didn’t practice this week and after getting hurt late in a Week 16 loss against the Miami Dolphins.

Brown played in just five games this season, including Week 1 at Carolina in which he played just three snaps. Injuries and complications from the coronavirus and a pre-game IV mishap robbed Brown of most of his season. He missed five games in 2019, thus he will end up missing half of his first two seasons with the Raiders.

In March 2019, the Raiders gave Brown a four-year, $66 million deal in free agency, making him the highest paid offensive lineman in the league.

On Friday, Gruden said the Raiders paid Brown to be the “LeBron James of right tackles” and he was “disappointed” that Brown has dealt with so much adversity and he hopes Brown can stay healthy next season.

Sam Young will start for Brown and Brandon Parker will be the swing tackle against Denver. Gruden also said middle linebacker Nick Kwiatkoski will miss the game because he is on the COVID-19 list. Safety Erik Harris was taken off the reserve/COVID-19 list on Friday.

Guard Denzelle Good (ankle), defensive tackle Maurice Hurst (calf) and defensive back Lamarcus Joyner (thigh) are all questionable to play. Rookie John Simpson will play if Good can’t.