Derek Carr and other Raiders attend event without wearing masks

Derek Carr and other Raiders teammates attended a large charity event this week.

The Las Vegas Raiders have not been good about following COVID-19 protocols so far this season. The team is already under league investigation for violating protocols on the sideline, but it only gets worse from there.

Derek Carr and a group of his teammates attended a charity event hosted by tight end Darren Waller this week. The cause was a good one. However, the group was seen without masks on at an event that already violated Nevada COVID-19 rules.

Raiders can’t seem to follow the rules

This is not only a bad look for Carr and his teammates that include Waller, Jason Witten, Nathan Peterman, and others. It is a reckless move at a time when the first game of the season has been moved due to positive COVID-19 tests.

Individuals are entitled to think there was nothing wrong with what these Raiders players did. But the NFL, and the state of Nevada, have specific guidelines in place. There are consequences to actions and deliberately breaking rules won’t be ignored.

The Raiders already have a lengthy injury report this week as the team prepares for a Week 4 matchup against the Buffalo Bills. Will the Bills feel comfortable playing the game if so many Raiders players broke the rules? The only benefit here is the NFL having so many tests readily available.

The team was already fined $250,000 and Jon Gruden took home a hefty $100,000 fine just for violating rules on the sideline. More serious punishments may be coming to send a message that the rules are not to be broken.

Not playing within a bubble puts the responsibility on the players and coaches to be smart. MLB saw several teams deal with major outbreaks. The NFL wants to avoid such situations and may need to use the Raiders as an example.