DENVER -- With the Oakland Raiders clinging to wafer-thin playoff hopes, the Denver Broncos and Raiders announced their list of inactive players for Sunday’s game at Empower Field at Mile High.
To earn the AFC’s No. 6 seed, the Raiders (7-8) need a win over the Broncos to go with losses by the Tennessee Titans and the Pittsburgh Steelers as well as an Indianapolis Colts win and a win by one of the following teams: the Chicago Bears, Detroit Lions, Los Angeles Chargers or New England Patriots.
The Raiders inactives are: wide receiver Keelan Doss, linebacker Ukeme Eligwe, guard Richie Incognito. running back Josh Jacobs, quarterback DeShone Kizer, defensive lineman Olsen Pierre and defensive end Jeremiah Valoaga.
Jacobs, who entered the day eighth in the league in rushing with 1,150 yards, had surgery this past week to deal with a skin infection. He has also dealt with a shoulder injury in recent weeks and had been a game-day inactive in two of the Raiders’ three previous games.
Raiders cornerbacks Lamarcus Joyner (calf/thigh) and Trayvon Mullen (neck/concussion) each missed two days of practice this past week, but both were active for Sunday’s game
The Broncos’ inactives are: tackle Calvin Anderson, tackle Ja'Wuan James, guard Ron Leary, nose tackle Kyle Peko, defensive lineman Deyon Sizer, cornerback Shakial Taylor and tackle Elijah Wilkinson.
It means James, who was the Broncos’ biggest signing in free agents -- four years, $51 million -- played in just three games this season, a total of 63 snaps. With James, Leary and Wilkinson out of the lineup, the Broncos will start three first-year starters on the line -- right tackle Jake Rodgers, right guard Austin Schlottmann and rookie left guard Dalton Risner.
Sunday will be Rodgers’ first start in a career in which he was waived 13 times.
