Preseason is over time for teams to make them cuts which long shot to make the 53 man roster for the raiders would you most like to see? Me I would have to go with RB Rankin I know we have three RB's but still would like to see this kid coming out of washington as a undrafted free agent make it on special teams or something.
OAKLAND RAIDERS OFFSEASON THREAD
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ALAMEDA, Calif. (AP)—Todd Watkins and rookie Chaz Schilens won the competition for the backup receiver spots on the Oakland Raiders, surviving Saturday’s final round of roster cuts.
The Raiders waived 21 players and placed rookie Arman Shields on injured reserve Saturday to get down to the 53-man limit.
With hundreds of players around the league getting cut Saturday, Watkins and Schilens are still not assured of being on the roster when the season opens Sept. 8 against Denver. But the two did enough in the preseason to make it this far.
Watkins, a seventh-round pick by Arizona in 2006, spent the previous two seasons on the practice squad for the Cardinals and Atlanta. He signed with the Raiders in the offseason and has been one of the best receivers in both practice and exhibition games. He led the Raiders with seven receptions for 88 yards in the preseason.
Schilens, a seventh-round pick out of San Diego State, had six catches for 94 yards in the exhibition games. He showed coach Lane Kiffin he was both physical enough and fast enough to make the team.
Receiver has been a question mark all training camp for the Raiders, who enter the season with just two proven players on the roster. Starters Javon Walker and Ronald Curry have had some success in their careers when healthy, but Johnnie Lee Higgins is the only backup to have even played in an NFL game.
Higgins had six catches as a rookie last year, when Kiffin said he could not trust him enough to play in games because he often ran wrong patterns in practice.
Chris McFoy and last year’s seventh-round pick Jonathan Holland were among the cuts. Shields, who has been bothered most of camp with a knee injury, will miss the season on injured reserve.
Among the other notable cuts were linebacker Adam Archuleta and running back Louis Rankin, who had 21 carries for 148 yards in the preseason and could be a candidate for the practice squad if he’s not claimed by another team.
Holland, McFoy, fullback Marcel Reece, tight end Darrell Strong and defensive lineman Greyson Gunheim are among the other players cut who could resurface on the practice squad.
With defensive end Kalimba Edwards nursing a leg injury that is not believed to be serious, the Raiders decided to keep nine defensive linemen, including two-way player Fred Wakefield.
Oakland only kept one fullback on the roster, waiving Luke Lawton just days after he was signed to replace the injured Oren O’Neal as Justin Griffith’s backup. Lawton had four catches in Friday night’s exhibition game at Seattle and could be brought back if the team determines Edwards is healthy and lets another lineman go.
The other players waived Saturday were offensive linemen Jesse Boone and Brandon Rodd; defensive backs Darrick Brown, Nate Lyles, Nick Sanchez, Marviel Underwood and Michael Waddell; defensive linemen Derrick Gray and Josh Shaw; running back Adimchinobe Echemandu; tight end Chris Wagner; linebacker Shane Simmons; and punter Glenn Pakulak.
The Raiders waived 21 players and placed rookie Arman Shields on injured reserve Saturday to get down to the 53-man limit.
With hundreds of players around the league getting cut Saturday, Watkins and Schilens are still not assured of being on the roster when the season opens Sept. 8 against Denver. But the two did enough in the preseason to make it this far.
Watkins, a seventh-round pick by Arizona in 2006, spent the previous two seasons on the practice squad for the Cardinals and Atlanta. He signed with the Raiders in the offseason and has been one of the best receivers in both practice and exhibition games. He led the Raiders with seven receptions for 88 yards in the preseason.
Schilens, a seventh-round pick out of San Diego State, had six catches for 94 yards in the exhibition games. He showed coach Lane Kiffin he was both physical enough and fast enough to make the team.
Receiver has been a question mark all training camp for the Raiders, who enter the season with just two proven players on the roster. Starters Javon Walker and Ronald Curry have had some success in their careers when healthy, but Johnnie Lee Higgins is the only backup to have even played in an NFL game.
Higgins had six catches as a rookie last year, when Kiffin said he could not trust him enough to play in games because he often ran wrong patterns in practice.
Chris McFoy and last year’s seventh-round pick Jonathan Holland were among the cuts. Shields, who has been bothered most of camp with a knee injury, will miss the season on injured reserve.
Among the other notable cuts were linebacker Adam Archuleta and running back Louis Rankin, who had 21 carries for 148 yards in the preseason and could be a candidate for the practice squad if he’s not claimed by another team.
Holland, McFoy, fullback Marcel Reece, tight end Darrell Strong and defensive lineman Greyson Gunheim are among the other players cut who could resurface on the practice squad.
With defensive end Kalimba Edwards nursing a leg injury that is not believed to be serious, the Raiders decided to keep nine defensive linemen, including two-way player Fred Wakefield.
Oakland only kept one fullback on the roster, waiving Luke Lawton just days after he was signed to replace the injured Oren O’Neal as Justin Griffith’s backup. Lawton had four catches in Friday night’s exhibition game at Seattle and could be brought back if the team determines Edwards is healthy and lets another lineman go.
The other players waived Saturday were offensive linemen Jesse Boone and Brandon Rodd; defensive backs Darrick Brown, Nate Lyles, Nick Sanchez, Marviel Underwood and Michael Waddell; defensive linemen Derrick Gray and Josh Shaw; running back Adimchinobe Echemandu; tight end Chris Wagner; linebacker Shane Simmons; and punter Glenn Pakulak.
Unemployment didn't last long for seven players cut by the Raiders.
One day after waiving 22 players, the Raiders re-signed seven to their practice squad, including camp standout Louis Rankin.
Rankin, an undrafted rookie out of Washington, had 21 carries for 148 yards in four exhibition games.
Other practice players retained were cornerback Darrick Brown, defensive end Greyson Gunheim, receiver Jonathan Holland, punter Glenn Pakulak, fullback Marcel Reese and tight end Darrell Strong.
They also kept defensive tackle Mauricio Lopez, who gets a roster exemption as an international player.
Offensive tackle Brandon Torrey is the lone outsider brought into Alameda. He spent camp with the Titans.
Lechler close: Pro Bowl punter Shane Lechler is close to returning from a right quad injury that has sidelined him for three weeks.
The Raiders kept Pakulak on the practice squad, just to be safe for now.
"We think Shane's going to kick, (but) we're being safe with him," Raiders coach Lane Kiffin said. "(Pakulak) gives us a security blanket to have him around for the time being."
Kelly down: Defensive tackle Tommy Kelly was hospitalized with flu-like symptoms Thursday, Kiffin said after practice Sunday, and still isn't at full strength.
Kelly watched practice from the sideline, as did cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha (ankle).
Others still out are outside linebacker Robert Thomas (kneecap), safety Rashad Baker (ankle) and defensive end Kalimba Edwards (groin).
Briefly: Cornerback DeAngelo Hall missed practice to attend his father's funeral, and free safety Michael Huff was gone so he could be at his grandfather's funeral. ... Wide receiver Javon Walker changed to jersey No. 84, which he wore with the Packers and Broncos. He picked No. 17 when the Raiders signed him in the offseason but switched to No. 84 when its previous owner - rookie Arman Shields - went on the injured reserve list with a knee injury Saturday. ... Players will take two days off before preparing Wednesday for the Sept. 8 opener against the Broncos.
One day after waiving 22 players, the Raiders re-signed seven to their practice squad, including camp standout Louis Rankin.
Rankin, an undrafted rookie out of Washington, had 21 carries for 148 yards in four exhibition games.
Other practice players retained were cornerback Darrick Brown, defensive end Greyson Gunheim, receiver Jonathan Holland, punter Glenn Pakulak, fullback Marcel Reese and tight end Darrell Strong.
They also kept defensive tackle Mauricio Lopez, who gets a roster exemption as an international player.
Offensive tackle Brandon Torrey is the lone outsider brought into Alameda. He spent camp with the Titans.
Lechler close: Pro Bowl punter Shane Lechler is close to returning from a right quad injury that has sidelined him for three weeks.
The Raiders kept Pakulak on the practice squad, just to be safe for now.
"We think Shane's going to kick, (but) we're being safe with him," Raiders coach Lane Kiffin said. "(Pakulak) gives us a security blanket to have him around for the time being."
Kelly down: Defensive tackle Tommy Kelly was hospitalized with flu-like symptoms Thursday, Kiffin said after practice Sunday, and still isn't at full strength.
Kelly watched practice from the sideline, as did cornerback Nnamdi Asomugha (ankle).
Others still out are outside linebacker Robert Thomas (kneecap), safety Rashad Baker (ankle) and defensive end Kalimba Edwards (groin).
Briefly: Cornerback DeAngelo Hall missed practice to attend his father's funeral, and free safety Michael Huff was gone so he could be at his grandfather's funeral. ... Wide receiver Javon Walker changed to jersey No. 84, which he wore with the Packers and Broncos. He picked No. 17 when the Raiders signed him in the offseason but switched to No. 84 when its previous owner - rookie Arman Shields - went on the injured reserve list with a knee injury Saturday. ... Players will take two days off before preparing Wednesday for the Sept. 8 opener against the Broncos.
Raiders need to stop picking up sloppy second from the 9ers there not that big of a need Witkins or Schilens would have been fine. Never really liked Lelie he had a big ass mouth with only a ok season to back it up with plus he cant stay healthy for shit so not to impressed with this pick up. But live goes on wonder who's going to get the chop to make room for him.
The Raiders are bringing back FB Luke Lawton, two days after waiving him.
Lawton back: The Raiders decided fullback Luke Lawton is the answer, after all.
They brought Lawton back to team headquarters Monday, two days after he was waived, with the intention of adding him to the 53-man roster.
A team official said he was there only for a workout, but Lawton said he expected to be signed. All his stuff - including a name plate and jersey - was back in his locker.
On Monday, Kiffin said it was imperative to sign a blocking fullback who could replace Oren O'Neal, who was lost for the season with a knee injury last week.
Lawton back: The Raiders decided fullback Luke Lawton is the answer, after all.
They brought Lawton back to team headquarters Monday, two days after he was waived, with the intention of adding him to the 53-man roster.
A team official said he was there only for a workout, but Lawton said he expected to be signed. All his stuff - including a name plate and jersey - was back in his locker.
On Monday, Kiffin said it was imperative to sign a blocking fullback who could replace Oren O'Neal, who was lost for the season with a knee injury last week.