Raiders notebook: Rico Gafford gets first career TD; Josh Jacobs doesn’t play
Wide receiver Rico Gafford spent the majority of the season on the Oakland Raiders’ practice squad.
Gafford, who was promoted to the active roster on Nov. 27, got wide-open and scored his first NFL touchdown on a 49-yard pass from Derek Carr in the Raiders’ 42-21 loss to the Tennessee Titans on Sunday at RingCentral Coliseum.
“We game-planned it all week for me to run that play,” Gafford said. “Obviously, we didn’t expect them to leave me wide open. It happened, I just had to make the catch and walk in the end zone. I’m excited about it. My first one ever, first catch ever against a team I used to play for. It feels a different way inside, but I would have much rather had the win.”
That was also the first career reception for Gafford, who saw playing time because rookie wide receiver Hunter Renfrow was inactive with a rib injury.
Last week, Trevor Davis was released.
Gafford was initially with the Titans when he signed as an undrafted free agent in April 2018.
Mo Hurst makes most of interception
Raiders defensive tackle Mo Hurst’s eyes must have been huge when he saw the football in the air.
The second-year pro grabbed the football off a deflection by Dion Jordan and rumbled back for a 55-yard interception return to Tennessee’s 24-yard line.
Hurst wanted a touchdown.
“I was hoping for it,” he said. “I looked to my right, I didn’t see anybody, but I guess the quarterback came back and made a good play.”
The Raiders scored three plays later, when DeAndre Washington galloped for a 14-yard touchdown for a 7-0 lead.
It was Hurst’s first career interception.
Josh Jacobs sits
Raiders rookie running back Josh Jacobs was inactive for the first time this season.
Jacobs is nursing a shoulder injury; during the week he posted on Snapchat saying he has a fractured shoulder.
The Raiders obviously didn’t want to risk further injury.
Washington started in Jacobs’ place. Jalen Richard saw more opportunities, too.
Jacobs is coming off another Rookie of the Month award, making it back-to-back for the Alabama alum.
“I give him a lot of credit,” Raiders coach Jon Gruden said. “He was really in tears today wanting to play. He took a shot to play, like he’s been doing, but the injury we just wouldn’t let him go out there and play under these circumstances. We don’t know what his status will be next week for the upcoming ballgame, but we’ll keep you posted.”
Foster Moreau leaves game
Raiders tight end Foster Moreau left the game because of a knee injury in the third quarter.
He made a catch near the sideline and looked to be in pain.
Moreau was attended by the trainers before getting ruled out.
Gruden said Moreau could be done for the season.
Further testing will be done on Monday.
This story was originally published December 8, 2019 at 6:06 PM.
