Raiders report: Bengals game a homecoming for wide receiver
Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker has a reputation among family and friends for not always answering his phone or responding to texts. That worked to his benefit this week.
Most of the ticket requests and well wishes for his return to Cincinnati for the Raiders’ game against the Bengals on Sunday are being filtered through his parents.
“Everyone already knows to contact someone else,” Tucker said. “But everyone knows how I feel. I’m excited, and I love them, but I have a game to worry about, and that means everything to me.”
Tucker played four seasons at the University of Cincinnati, mostly with Raiders newcomer Desmond Ridder at quarterback. Some of the Bearcats’ home games are played at Paycor Stadium, which means Tucker had time to dream about the NFL.
“I know the layout, and I know everywhere where we’re going to be when we get there,” he said. “I spent four crucial years of my life there, so it will always be like a home to me.
“We would always say how cool it was just being in an NFL locker room. Being that close to an NFL team, it was really exciting.”
Tucker said he knows many of the people who will be rooting against him in the stadium Sunday were the same ones who cheered for him in college.
If he were to score a touchdown, he knows some fans deep down will be happy for him even if they outwardly scream about him scoring for the wrong team.
But he’s excited to be going back, especially with Ridder now by his side.
“It’s so fitting with both of us going back,” Tucker said. “We put in a lot of work there to get to this point.”
Tucker could play a featured role in his return.
“We’ve just got to find a way to get him the ball,” coach Antonio Pierce said. “It could be a reverse, and we’ve done that the last couple weeks. And again, if there are opportunities down the field, get him there.”
Pierce offered words of caution for Tucker about the distractions that come with returning home.
“It could be a spark, but I think for a lot of guys you really want to stay away from that because you get caught up in the hoopla,” he said.
Injury report
The Raiders will be without starting center Andre James on Sunday because of an ankle injury.
Defensive end Maxx Crosby doesn’t have an injury designation despite missing practice Friday with an ankle injury he has been dealing with for most of the season.
Linebacker Robert Spillane is listed as questionable with a knee injury after missing all three practices this week. He will be a game-time decision, Pierce said.
Guard Dylan Parham is questionable with a foot injury. While he can also play center, the team is likely to go with rookie Jackson Powers-Johnson after he moved from left guard and filled in admirably after James left the Chiefs game with an ankle injury.
Running back Zamir White is also questionable after missing Thursday’s practice with a quad injury and getting in a full session Friday.
Signed
The Raiders have signed wide receiver Ramel Keyton from the practice squad to the active roster on a two-year deal, sources close to the team confirmed.
Keyton made the 53-man roster out of training camp as an undrafted free agent out of Tennessee and was released in late September. He joined the practice squad a day later.
Tight end Justin Shorter was also signed to the active roster. Wide receiver Tyreik McAllister and tight end John Samuel Shenker were waived to clear roster space.
Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on X.