Raiders’ 53-man roster a work in progress

By Michael Gehlken Las Vegas Review-Journal

7 years ago

Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) communicates with his coaches during the second quarter of a NFL preseason football game in Oakland, Calif., Saturday, Aug. 19, 2017. Heidi Fang Las Vegas Review-Journal @HeidiFang

Oakland Raiders quarterback Derek Carr (4) throws a pass in the first half of a preseason NFL football game against the Dallas Cowboys on Saturday, Aug. 26, 2017, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/Ron Jenkins)

OAKLAND, Calif. — The Raiders now have 53 players on their roster.

Two are clear candidates to be placed on injured reserve and possibly return later this season.

Safety Keith McGill and guard-tackle Denver Kirkland missed most of August to injury. McGill fractured his foot during training camp. Kirkland suffered an apparent ankle injury in the first exhibition. Placing either or both on injured reserve will allow the Raiders some space they can easily fill on their roster Sunday when claiming players who were cut by other teams.

The NFL required all 32 clubs to reduce from a 9o- to 53-man roster by 1 p.m. Saturday. The upcoming activity means this current roster is very much a work in progress. Changes are certain to come before the Sept. 10 opener at the Tennessee Titans.

On this full, initial 53-man roster, linebacker Nicholas Morrow is the only undrafted rookie who made the cut. He was an underdog, having attended Greenville College, a Division III school in Illinois. The Raiders drafted nine players in April. Running back Elijah Hood, one of the team’s four seventh-round picks, was the only one who didn’t make the team.

Quarterback (3)

Derek Carr

EJ Manuel

Connor Cook

Running back (3)

Marshawn Lynch

DeAndre Washington

Jalen Richard

Fullback (1)

Jamize Olawale

Wide receiver (5)

Amari Cooper

Michael Crabtree

Seth Roberts

Cordarrelle Patterson

Johnny Holton

Tight end (3)

Jared Cook

Lee Smith

Clive Walford

Offensive line (10)

LT Donald Penn

LG Kelechi Osemele

C Rodney Hudson

RG Gabe Jackson

RT Marshall Newhouse

C/G Jon Feliciano

G/T Vadal Alexander

G/T Denver Kirkland

OT David Sharpe

OT Jylan Ware

Defensive line (8)

Khalil Mack

Justin Ellis

Mario Edwards Jr.

Eddie Vanderdoes

Jihad Ward

Denico Autry

Treyvon Hester

Darius Latham

Linebacker (6)

Bruce Irvin

Tyrell Adams

Cory James

James Cowser

Marquel Lee

Nicholas Morrow

Cornerback (6)

David Amerson

Sean Smith

Gareon Conley

TJ Carrie

Dexter McDonald

Antonio Hamilton

Safety (5)

Reggie Nelson

Karl Joseph

Obi Melifonwu

Shalom Luani

Keith McGill

Specialists (3)

Kicker Sebastian Janikowski

Punter Marquette King

Long snapper Jon Condo

More Raiders: Follow all of our Raiders coverage online at reviewjournal.com/Raiders and @NFLinVegas on Twitter.

Contact reporter Michael Gehlken at mgehlken@reviewjournal.com. Follow @GehlkenNFL on Twitter.