Silver And Black Pride
In a situation that escalated extremely fast, the Las Vegas Raiders have released starting linebacker Germaine Pratt, coach Pete Carroll announced Monday morning.
Friday afternoon, after practice, Carroll’s availability and the release of the injury report, the team announced linebacker Pratt would not travel to Indianapolis for Sunday 40-6 defeat to the Colts. No reason was given other than it wasn’t an injury issue.
After the game Sunday, Carroll declined to get deep into the subject of Pratt not going to Indianapolis, only stating the team decided to go with other players at the position. That was a clear sign something was going on with Pratt.
Monday, Carroll gave the same, short reasoning for the team moving away from Pratt. It is safe to assume if there was an issue that developed last week between Pratt and the team. Starting players aren’t just released out of the blue like this.
The veteran played 88 percent of the defensive snaps in the first four games of the season and the 25 tackles. Pratt, 29, was quickly signed by the Raiders this summer right away the Cincinnati Bengals released him.
He was a core defender for the Raiders until he wasn’t. He joins defensive tackle Christian Wilkins as starting defensive players who have been released by Las Vegas since the start of training camp.
Carroll indicated Charles Snowden (who played some snaps at Pratt’s spot at the Colts, Malcolm Koonce and Jamal Adams will take on bigger role’s at Pratt position..
Perhaps younger players Tommy Eichenberg and Cody Lindenberg will get more playing time with Pratt off the roster. The Raiders will be able to add a player to the 53-man roster to replace Pratt.
