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Las Vegas Raiders looking into why players were without masks at charity event

HENDERSON, Nev. -- Las Vegas Raiders owner Mark Davis said Tuesday that the team is looking into why several players were not wearing masks while attending a charity event held by teammate Darren Waller that broke Nevada rules for the coronavirus pandemic and might have violated NFL regulations.

The Darren Waller Foundation held a fundraising event Monday at the DragonRidge Country Club in the Las Vegas suburb of Henderson. Players were seen on video without masks at the indoor event while talking and mingling with guests, who also weren't wearing masks.

"Guys have to be more stringent in fighting the virus," Davis told ESPN. "It's still our toughest opponent."

The NFL said Thursday it is looking into the matter.

Among the players in attendance were quarterbacks Derek Carr and Nathan Peterman, tight ends Jason Witten, Foster Moreau and Derek Carrier, receivers Zay Jones and Hunter Renfrow, and cornerback Nevin Lawson, as well as tight end Waller. In one photo that was posted to the Darren Waller Foundation Instagram page and later deleted, an unmasked Carr posed with another maskless guest who had won his jersey in an auction.

The city of Henderson fined the DragonRidge Country Club $2,000 on Tuesday for four violations of the Nevada governor's COVID-19 emergency directives, including people not wearing masks and having more than 50 people at the event. The club has 30 days to pay or dispute the fine.

Davis, who attended the event virtually, said he was disappointed that the story overshadowed the purpose of the night, which was to raise money to help young people overcome drug and alcohol addiction.

Rules from the NFL and NFLPA limit what players are allowed to do away from team facilities this season to try to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Players are banned from attending any event that "violates local and state restrictions."

Davis said the team would look into the matter, referencing general manager Mike Mayock and coach Jon Gruden, who is scheduled to speak to the media on a Zoom call Wednesday along with Carr.

The NFL and a representative from Waller's foundation didn't immediately respond to a request for comment.

This is the latest possible infraction of COVID-19 protocols by the Raiders early this season. Gruden was fined $100,000, and the team was fined $250,000 because he failed to wear his mask properly on the sideline during a Week 2 game against the New Orleans Saints, sources previously told ESPN.

The team is also being investigated for allowing an unauthorized team employee in the locker room after the Saints game, ESPN reported Sunday.

Gruden said after the Saints game that he had the coronavirus in July and stressed that the team is taking the matter seriously. He has repeatedly said that the team's goal is to "crush the virus," and the team printed T-shirts with the slogan at the start of training camp.

Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.