Henry Ruggs - Pro Football Rumors

WR Henry Ruggs Sentenced To 3-10 Years

August 9th, 2023 at 12:19pm CST by Sam Robinson

Following a guilty plea, former Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs received a prison sentence that will range from 3-10 years, Caroline Bleakley of 8 News Now reports.

Handed down Wednesday, this sentence comes nearly two years after Ruggs was arrested for his role in a car accident that killed a woman and her dog in Las Vegas. Ruggs, 24, entered his guilty plea May 10. Ruggs will serve his sentence in the Nevada state prison.

Accused of reaching speeds of 156 mph while impaired in the crash that killed 23-year-old Tina Tintor, Ruggs faced a harsher prison sentence if convicted. The former first-round pick was hit with several charges — DUI resulting in death, DUI resulting in bodily harm, two counts of reckless driving resulting in death or substantial bodily harm, and possessing a firearm while under the influence. An accepted plea deal reduced the charges to DUI resulting in death, along with misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter, Bleakley adds.

“I sincerely apologize for my actions the morning of Nov. 2, 2021,” a Ruggs statement read. “My actions are not a true reflection of me.”

Ruggs’ Corvette collided with Tintor’s Toyota RAV4, launching the woman’s vehicle 571 feet and setting it on fire. The accident occurred just west of The Strip. Ruggs and a female passenger suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the crash. Ruggs refused a field sobriety test, but blood tests approximately two hours later revealed a blood-alcohol level of .161 — more than twice the legal limit.

Not given any credit for the time he has spent on house arrest since the accident, Ruggs must serve at least three years in prison. The Raiders selected the Alabama alum 12th overall in 2020, making the deep threat the first receiver chosen that year. The team waived Ruggs hours after the crash.

Henry Ruggs To Plead Guilty, Face Prison Time In Fatal DUI Case

May 2nd, 2023 at 2:14pm CST by Sam Robinson

Henry Ruggs plans to plead guilty to felony counts of DUI resulting in death and misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter. The former Raiders wide receiver reached a plea agreement Tuesday in Las Vegas justice court, Elizabeth Merrill and Anthony Olivieri of ESPN.com report.

Unconditionally waiving his right to a preliminary hearing, Ruggs is set to enter his guilty plea May 10. Ruggs will serve between three and 10 years in the Nevada state prison as a result of this development, according to ESPN. This comes exactly 18 months after Ruggs was arrested following a fatal car accident that killed a woman and her dog in November 2021. Ruggs, 24, also faces a misdemeanor vehicular manslaughter charge.

Accused of reaching speeds of 156 mph while impaired in the crash that killed 23-year-old Tina Tintor, Ruggs faced a harsher prison sentence if convicted. This agreement will lead the charge of DUI causing substantial harm and reckless driving charges being dropped. Ruggs refused to take a field sobriety test, but blood tests approximately two hours later revealed a blood-alcohol level of .161, which is more than twice the legal limit.

Ruggs’ Corvette collided with Tintor’s Toyota RAV4, launching the woman’s vehicle 571 feet and set it on fire during the morning of Nov. 2, 2021. The accident occurred just west of The Strip. The Raiders waived Ruggs later that day. He and a female passenger suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the crash.

The Alabama alum had been granted permission to leave home confinement three times per week for workouts. The court also permitted Ruggs to leave for around a month for an unspecified medical treatment. The preliminary hearing had been rescheduled six times, Merrill and Olivieri add.

The Raiders made Ruggs the first wide receiver drafted in 2020, choosing the deep threat 12th overall. Ruggs played 20 games for the team.

Latest On WR Henry Ruggs

July 13th, 2022 at 4:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

A Las Vegas judge ruled the blood alcohol tests administered to Henry Ruggs are admissible as evidence in his case, according to Anthony Olivieri of ESPN.com. Ruggs’ attorney argued no probable cause existed for the tests, which occurred hours after the former Raiders wide receiver was involved in a car accident that killed a woman and her dog.

The Raiders waived Ruggs not long after he was charged with two felonies — DUI resulting in death and reckless driving. After being accused of driving 156 mph while impaired, in a crash that killed 23-year-old Tina Tintor, Ruggs faces prison time. His preliminary hearing has been rescheduled four times; it is now set for Sept. 7.

Ruggs, 23, refused to take a field sobriety test while on the scene, according to a police report. He was later hospitalized for injuries sustained in the accident. His blood alcohol content, measured two hours after the crash, registered 0.16 — twice the Nevada legal limit. Ruggs’ lawyer argued the receiver’s involvement in the high-speed crash did not give police officers sufficient grounds to test his blood alcohol content, per Olivieri.

“There’s obvious time constraints in applying for a search warrant for a blood draw,” Justice of the Peace Ann Zimmerman said. “Under the totality of the circumstances, there is more than sufficient evidence for a finding of probable cause for the issuance of the search warrant in this case. Nobody has mentioned so far that Mr. Ruggs was seriously injured in this accident and transported to the hospital, so he would have been unable to submit to field sobriety tests. Coupled with his refusal to answer questions, this does not result in a reward.”

The Clark County coroner determined Tintor and her dog burned to death in the November 2021 crash, Olivieri and ESPN colleague Elizabeth Merrill write in an expansive piece. Clark County district attorney Steve Wolfson indicated that, in over 40 years in the justice system, he could not recall another criminal case that involved a 156-mph speed.

Ruggs secured permission in March to leave home confinement twice per week. The former first-round pick has been training at a Las Vegas-area facility geared toward pro-level athletes this year, according to ESPN. He faces a minimum of two years in prison, if convicted, with a maximum sentence of 50 years.

Raiders Cut WR Henry Ruggs

November 2nd, 2021 at 11:03pm CST by Sam Robinson

The Raiders cut Henry Ruggs on Tuesday night. The team announced the transaction, which comes shortly after the second-year wide receiver was arrested for his role in a fatal car accident Tuesday morning.

Ruggs is facing two felony charges for an accident that left a woman dead. Las Vegas police say that Ruggs was impaired when his Corvette crashed into another car and killed the driver of the other vehicle. The accident occurred just before 4am in a residential neighborhood west of the Las Vegas Strip. Ruggs and a passenger in his vehicle were hospitalized. Upon being released from a Las Vegas-area hospital Tuesday, Ruggs was booked at the Clark County Detention Center.

Authorities identified the victim as a 23-year-old woman. The collision caused the victim’s vehicle to burst into flames, killing the woman and her dog, according to ESPN.com. Ruggs faces charges of DUI resulting in death and reckless driving. The first charge carries a possible sentence of two to 20 years in prison. The second runs from probation to six years. Ruggs, 22, is due to appear in court Wednesday.

Ruggs and a female passenger in his Corvette suffered non-life-threatening injuries. The woman who was in Ruggs’ car remains hospitalized. Raiders players returned to the team’s Henderson, Nev., facility Monday, after their bye week, but had another day off Tuesday, according to ESPN.

Although players hit with felony charges are eligible for the commissioner’s exempt list, which keeps those players on teams’ rosters while legal matters play out, the Raiders acted swiftly to move on from Ruggs. This marks an abrupt end to Ruggs’ Raiders tenure, and the former Alabama standout’s NFL career is obviously in serious jeopardy. Ruggs will head to waivers, though that will almost certainly be irrelevant here. The Raiders have a clear path to voiding the remaining guarantees in Ruggs’ four-year, $16.67MM rookie contract. Ruggs’ deal was fully guaranteed.

Some Raiders staffers preferred Ruggs’ Alabama teammate, Jerry Jeudy in last year’s first round, but the team made Ruggs the first receiver drafted in 2020. Las Vegas drafted Ruggs with the 12th overall pick. The deep threat struggled as a rookie, catching 26 passes for 452 yards in 13 games. Ruggs had shown improvement to become a more consistent part of Las Vegas’ offense this season, having made 24 receptions for 469 yards and two touchdowns through seven games.

Las Vegas has fellow homegrown wideouts Hunter Renfrow and Bryan Edwards signed beyond 2021, with Darren Waller under c contract beyond this season as well. As of now, Zay Jones is set to step into Ruggs’ starting position, Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal notes. The Ruggs exit certainly leaves a void in the AFC West-leading team’s passing attack, but Renfrow, Waller and Edwards each have posted yardage totals north of 300 this season. Ruggs exited Week 7 as the team’s leading receiver, however.

Raiders’ Henry Ruggs To Be Charged With DUI Resulting In Death

November 2nd, 2021 at 1:01pm CST by Zachary Links

Raiders wide receiver Henry Ruggs will be charged in connection with a fatal car crash on Tuesday morning (Twitter link via NFL.com’s Mike Garafolo). Las Vegas police say that Ruggs was impaired when his Corvette crashed into another car and killed the driver of another vehicle.

The crash occurred around 4am when authorities say Ruggs’ car collided with a Toyota Rav4. When the fire department arrived, they found the other driver deceased. Ruggs, 22, was transported to the hospital with “non-life-threatening injuries,” per the police report.

Ruggs was booked into Clark County Detention Center on Tuesday afternoon, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com tweets. The victim was a 23-year-old woman, according to Mick Akers of the Las Vegas Review-Journal (on Twitter).

Ruggs, the No. 12 overall pick in the 2020 draft, posted ~1,500 yards and 24 touchdowns over his final two years at Alabama. On the field, the 6’0″ receiver has been a potent deep threat for the Raiders, averaging 18.4 yards per catch as a pro. Now, after today’s tragedy, his career is in limbo.

The wide receiver has two years and change to go on his contract, per the terms of his four-year, $16.67MM deal. The remaining salary and guarantees could be voided, depending on how his case progresses. In any event, he’ll likely spend the rest of the 2021 season away from the team.

The Raiders are now left with just three wide receivers on the roster in Bryan Edwards, Hunter Renfrow, and Zay Jones. Practice squad WRs Javon Wims, D.J. Turner, and Dillon Stoner could be candidates for promotion between now and Sunday’s contest against the Giants.

Raiders Notes: Ruggs, Key, Joyner

September 12th, 2021 at 11:34am CST by Rory Parks

The Raiders will kick off their regular season on Monday Night Football against the Ravens tomorrow. In the meantime, let’s round up a few recent items on the Silver-and-Black:

The 2020 wide receiver draft class was absolutely loaded, and plenty of pundits believed Jerry Jeudy was the cream of the crop. Although no WR had been selected by the time the Raiders were on the board with the No. 12 overall pick, Las Vegas ultimately chose Henry Ruggs over Jeudy and CeeDee Lamb. As Vic Tafur of The Athletic writes, there were Jeudy supporters in the Raiders’ war room, but head coach Jon Gruden wanted his own version of Tyreek Hill, and he saw Ruggs as a player who fit that bill.
The Raiders selected DE Arden Key, who was once believed to be a first-round talent, in the third round of the 2018 draft. But the LSU product posted just three sacks in three seasons, and Vegas deemed him surplus to requirements in April. He was quickly scooped up by the 49ers, and he did not mince words when asked about his time with the Raiders. “To be honest, I wanted to get out of there,” Key said (via Jacob Hutchinson of KNBR.com). “I been wanting to get out of there. I wasn’t surprised. I was more happy than surprised. I wish it happened a little earlier but, hey, I got what I wanted and I’m good.” Key went on to say that the Raiders’ defensive scheme was a poor fit for him, and while he did not explicitly say so, it seems he is happy to be away from Gruden.
Count Lamarcus Joyner as another ex-Raider who is happy to be away from the club. The Raiders deployed Joyner — who primarily played safety with the Rams before signing a big-money free agent contract with Vegas — as a nickelback over the past several seasons, and he struggled in that role. The Raiders released him in March, and he signed with the Jets 10 days later. Gang Green will deploy him as single-high safety, and he is pleased with how things turned out. “I’m pretty sure the whole world knows that (I’m happy to be away from the Raiders),” he said. “I made that known. I’m so happy it’s over and I’m here with coach [Robert] Saleh right now” (via Rich Cimini of ESPN.com). Joyner was clear that he didn’t have an issue with Gruden personally.

Raiders Place Henry Ruggs On Reserve/COVID-19 List

December 15th, 2020 at 4:29pm CST by Sam Robinson

Ahead of a key Thursday game against the Chargers, the Raiders are set to be without their field-stretching rookie wideout. They placed Henry Ruggs on their reserve/COVID-19 list Tuesday.

While the Raiders have not gotten as much from Ruggs statistically as some of the other teams who drafted receivers this year, the Alabama product has helped the team’s offense as a deep threat.

It is not yet known if Ruggs tested positive for the coronavirus or qualifies as a high-risk close contact. Either scenario would, however, give him an opening to play in Week 16. This makes for another setback for the 2020 draft’s top wideout selected. He missed much of Las Vegas’ offseason program after suffering an off-field injury and missed time earlier this season because of a hamstring malady.

Ruggs is averaging 18.0 yards per catch this season, hauling in 23 passes for 414 yards and two touchdowns. The coveted prospect has seen low-cost UFA Nelson Agholor operate as Las Vegas’ top outside receiver as of late.

The Raiders also promoted Vic Beasley from their practice squad. The Raiders’ loss to the Colts bumped them back to the “In the Hunt” tier of the AFC playoff picture, placing obvious importance on their Week 15 game against the Bolts.

Raiders Place CB Damon Arnette On IR

October 3rd, 2020 at 1:54pm CST by Sam Robinson

After aggravating a previous thumb injury in Week 3, Damon Arnette will see his rookie season paused for a while. The Raiders placed the first-round cornerback on IR.

Arnette initially broke his thumb during training camp but landed on it awkwardly against the Patriots last week. As a result, the Raiders will be without a key defensive piece for a while. Arnette underwent thumb surgery this week and will be out at least six weeks.

The suddenly potent Bills passing offense will face a Raiders team ranking 31st in defensive DVOA, though the unit sits 18th in DVOA against the pass through three weeks. The Raiders may also be down rookie cornerback Amik Robertson, who is questionable with a non-coronavirus illness. Arnette has started each of the Raiders’ games this season.

Las Vegas looks also set to be without its other 2020 first-rounder against Buffalo. The Raiders listed Henry Ruggs as doubtful to face the Bills. Ruggs is battling knee and hamstring injuries.

Additionally, the Raiders promoted safety Dallin Leavitt from their practice squad and placed defensive tackle Daniel Ross on IR.

WR Notes: Thomas, Adams, Chiefs, Ruggs

September 25th, 2020 at 4:10pm CST by Sam Robinson

Several teams’ receiving situations remain in flux going into the Sunday leg of Week 3. Here is the latest from the marquee pass-catcher position:

The Saints will continue to be patient with Michael Thomas. The high ankle sprain the All-Pro suffered will keep him out of Sunday night’s game against the Packers. This will mark just Thomas’ second missed game since his 2016 rookie year and will leave Emmanuel Sanders and Tre’Quan Smith as Drew Brees‘ top receivers.
In that game, Aaron Rodgers appears set to work with his younger wideouts. Davante Adams is doubtful for the Packers‘ game in New Orleans, leaving Allen Lazard and Marquez Valdes-Scantling as the top targets for the Sunday night game’s other first-ballot Hall of Fame quarterback.
With the Raiders attempting to move to 3-0 for the first time since 2002, they will be without Henry Ruggs. The speed merchant played Monday night but suffered a hamstring injury during Las Vegas’ Thursday practice, Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com notes. Ruggs is also dealing with a knee issue, which he aggravated in the first half of Monday’s win.
Ahead of the game of the 2020 season to date, the Chiefs have their No. 2 wide receiver in concussion protocol. Sammy Watkins‘ status is uncertain for Kansas City’s game in Baltimore, and Andy Reid said the seventh-year wideout has encountered a neck problem as well, per Adam Teicher of ESPN.com. The Chiefs are better insured here than most, with 2019 second-round speedster Mecole Hardman on track to play a bigger role were Watkins to miss time. Watkins left the Chiefs’ Week 2 win early after suffering the head injury.
As the Cardinals look for their first 3-0 start in five years, Kyler Murray will be without one of his top three receivers. Christian Kirk did not practice this week and is out with a groin injury. The third-year wideout has three receptions for 57 yards this season.
The Jets will be without their top receiver Sunday. Jamison Crowder‘s hamstring injury will sideline him for another week. Gang Green already has Denzel Mims on IR and Breshad Perriman out potentially beyond this week, while Crowder replacement Braxton Berrios is questionable to face the Colts.

AFC West Rumors: Raiders, Simmons, Jones

July 30th, 2020 at 3:09pm CST by Sam Robinson

From Cliff Branch to James Jett to Darrius Heyward-Bey (to name a few of many), the Raiders have been known for their speed affinity for decades. They surprised many by making Henry Ruggs the first wide receiver pick in this draft. Their owner was eyeing the Alabama deep threat for months leading up to the draft. Citing a lack of team speed for the past several years, Mark Davis said he pegged Ruggs as the first-rounder he wanted for six months going into this year’s draft, via Vic Tafur of The Athletic (subscription required). Chosen before Alabama teammate Jerry Jeudy and Oklahoma’s CeeDee Lamb, Ruggs did not eclipse 800 yards in a college season. And he spent time this offseason rehabbing a thigh injury he sustained two months ago while helping a friend move. However, Ruggs said Wednesday he is 100%, per Scott Bair of NBC Sports Bay Area (on Twitter), as Raiders rookies prepare for the team’s strength and conditioning period.

Here is the latest from the AFC West:

For the first time in five negotiations with franchise-tagged players, Broncos GM John Elway did not close a deal. Justin Simmons will play this season on the safety tag. Elway said discussions never came close to a deal, but the 10th-year GM believed his offer was “very, very fair.” The offer was believed to place Simmons among the five or six highest-paid safeties. Guaranteed money was an issue, however, with Elway noting the pandemic induced the Broncos to limit the guaranteed dollars in their proposal to Simmons (Twitter links via 9News’ Mike Klis). Elway, who said late last season Simmons would be a priority, still wants to extend the standout defensive back next year.
The Raiders are beginning their first season in Las Vegas, but the prospects of the NFL moving to Nevada surfaced in January 2016. Davis adds that Vegas was after the Raiders “for years” before those talks began. “We got our ass kicked in L.A., and we went back to Oakland with our tails between our legs. And then (Coliseum Authority executive director Scott) McKibben backtracked and tripled our lease, and it was total disrespect. It was like, how are we going to work with these people?” Davis said. “Vegas had been after us for years, but I told them I will only talk to you if Oakland and Los Angeles don’t happen.” The NFL in 2016 voted to send the Rams to Los Angeles and placed the Chargers ahead of the Raiders in the pecking order. The Raiders then spent three years as a lame-duck team in Oakland.
Chris Jones‘ contract trails both Fletcher Cox‘s 2016 extension ($17.1MM per year) and Grady Jarrett‘s pact in 2019 ($17MM AAV) in terms of two-year payouts, leading Jason Fitzgerald of OverTheCap to label it a Chiefs-friendly deal. Jones’ four-year, $80MM extension is essentially a two-year deal. The Chiefs, who did this deal without including a signing bonus, would incur no dead money by moving Jones in 2022. Through those two years, Jones will see $37.6MM — which is also well behind Aaron Donald‘s $60MM two-year total.