Raiders Make Final Moves Down To 53 Players

After making 18 cuts on Monday, the Raiders the following 22 moves to trim their roster down to 53-players, per a team announcement:

Waived

• DT Zach Carter
• RB Chris Collier
• DE Jahfari Harvey
• WR Shedrick Jackson
• LB Matt Jones
• DT Treven Ma’ae
• G Atonio Mafi
• RB Sincere McCormick
• WR Tommy Mellott
• QB Cam Miller
• DE Ovie Oghoufo
• TE Carter Runyon
• WR Justin Shorter
• OL Laki Tasi
• S Trey Taylor
• CB Greedy Vance
• OT Dalton Wagner
• S JT Woods

Released

• WR Alex Bachman
• S Terrell Edmunds
• TE Albert Okwuegbunam

Placed on IR (designated for return)

• S Lonnie Johnson

Backup quarterback Aidan O’Connell is projected to be out for six to eight weeks after undergoing surgery for a fractured wrist, but curiously, he will not land on injured reserve with a return designation. The Raiders may be waiting to make that move in case they need to open up a roster spot for a waiver claim, per Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review Journal. Las Vegas also kept offensive tackle Thayer Munford, who was a risk to get claimed on waivers, according to Bonsignore.

Despite a pre-draft endorsement from Tom Brady and O’Connell’s injury, Miller was unable to hang on the 53-man roster as a third-string quarterback. The Raiders will need a backup quarterback to start the year, and Miller is an obvious candidate to return to the practice squad for early-season elevations as O’Connell heals. They could also scour the waiver wire and then transfer O’Connell to the IR.

Johnson suffered a broken fibula in early August, but it was not expected to end his season. His designation to return confirms that projection, but he will still be sidelined for a minimum of four games to start the year.