Raiders report: Punter AJ Cole a Christmas ‘trendsetter’
Raiders report
Schedule
All practices at Intermountain Healthcare Performance Center, unless noted:
Thursday — Walkthrough, 11 a.m
Friday — Practice, 11 a.m
Saturday — Off
Sunday — vs. Denver Broncos, Allegiant Stadium, 1:30 p.m.
Monday — Rich Bisaccia news conference, 1 p.m.
Quote of the day
It has become trendy to refer to “Die Hard” as a Christmas movie and even to invoke the Bruce Willis action film when discussing favorite holiday films.
Raiders punter A.J. Cole believes his family was ahead of the curve.
“It kind of became cliche to say that ‘Die Hard’ is your favorite Christmas movie, so I hate that,” the AFC Pro Bowler said. “I feel like I was too early for my time on that one. Me and my family every year on Christmas Eve, we go to church and then watch ‘Die Hard.’ We’ve been doing that for a long time. At some point the mainstream caught up with us, but I think we were the trendsetters.”
He offered a list of more traditional honorable mention selections, including “Grinch,” “Elf” and “A Christmas Story.”
Injury report
Safety Johnathan Abram, who will undergo surgery on a dislocated left shoulder Thursday and miss the rest of the season, was one of seven Raiders who didn’t participate in Wednesday’s walk-through.
It was an estimated injury report because it wasn’t a formal practice.
Star tight end Darren Waller drew a non-participation designation with the knee and back injuries that have kept him out of the past three games. Leading tackler Denzel Perryman, who has missed the past two games with an ankle injury, remained out.
Perryman indicated he is feeling better and might be back soon.
“It’s all a work in progress,” the linebacker said. “Getting better day by day. We’ll see how it feels with another week.”
Linebacker Will Compton has not returned after leaving the team over the weekend because of the death of his mother.
Running back Josh Jacobs was out because of illness, defensive tackle Johnathan Hankins with a back injury and wide receiver Zay Jones with a toe issue.
Linebacker Divine Deablo (shoulder/arm), tight ends Daniel Helm (knee) and Foster Moreau (abdomen/thigh) and offensive tackle Brandon Parker (knee) were limited participants.
Cornerback Casey Hayward (Achilles), defensive end Carl Nassib (knee) and guard John Simpson (knee) were full participants.
Transaction
Cornerback Brandon Facyson was added to the reserve/COVID-19 list Wednesday.
He joined fellow cornerback Nate Hobbs as the lone Raiders players on the list as much of the league endures an outbreak.
Perryman honored
Perryman wasn’t sure what to think when he saw an incoming FaceTime call from coach Rich Bisaccia appear on his phone shortly before game time Monday.
He was even more confused when he saw the faces of Bisaccia, defensive coordinator Gus Bradley and linebackers coach Richard Smith on the screen upon accepting the call.
Perryman was home in Las Vegas recovering from an ankle injury getting ready to watch his teammates play the Browns on television when the coaches called to inform him he had been selected to the Pro Bowl.
“My eyes just opened up,” he said. “It still hasn’t hit me yet, but it’s a good feeling. To be recognized by my peers, it means a lot. Not too many people get that selection.”
It’s Perryman’s first selection in his seven-year career. As far as he knows, it was his first time even on the ballot.
The 29-year-old is still fifth in the league in tackles despite missing the past two games.
Adam Hill Las Vegas Review-Journal
