The Las Vegas Raiders made a series of transactions on Sunday in order to get down to the league-mandated roster limit of 53 players ahead of the 3 p.m. deadline.
Veteran quarterback Aidan O’Connell was not among the moves, but promising rookie Keyron Crawford’s season has come to an end as he was placed on injured reserve without a return designation.
The team elected to keep three quarterbacks on the initial roster with O’Connell joining No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza and presumed starter Kirk Cousins, though further moves are expected to be made over the next 24 hours.
That means O’Connell will be back for a fourth season with the organization.
The news wasn’t as good for 35 other players who were either waived, released or placed on injured reserve.
Crawford’s status could be the most impactful.
The third-round pick was starting to emerge as a key rotational piece with a strong close to training camp before he was carted off the field during Thursday’s preseason finale with an ankle injury.
He could have been designated to return, a distinction the team made with tight end Carter Runyon on Sunday, but Crawford is now officially out for the year.
Runyon would be eligible to come back beginning in Week 5.
The Raiders released nine veterans who will immediately become free agents, headlined by linebacker and special teams ace Segun Olubi.
Olubi was believed to have a good chance to make the team, but they will go with four inside linebackers for now.
Wide receivers Phillip Dorsett II, Brandon Johnson and Deven Thompkins were also part of this group. Thompkins was a steady playmaker throughout camp.
Tight ends Chris Myarick and Albert Okwuegbunam Jr. were released, along with linebackers Buddy Johnson and Cameron McGrone.
Veteran running back Dare Ogunbowale was released, potentially signaling good news about the prognosis of star running back Ashton Jeanty. The Raiders now have just three halfbacks on the roster after releasing a potential insurance policy in Ogunbowale and waiving another option in rookie Roman Hemby.
Undrafted rookie Chase Roberts was waived with an injury designation. The remainder of the young players on the roster who were let go were placed on waivers, meaning any team can claim them over the next 24 hours.
That group includes edge defender Cian Slone, who couldn’t follow up his OTA and minicamp efforts with training camp success, and struggling rookie kicker Kansei Matsuzawa. He was beaten out for the kicking job by Matt Gay. Long snapper Tyler Duzansky was also waived having been beaten out for the job by veteran Alex Ward.
Other offensive players on waivers were quarterback Jacob Clark, tight end Patrick Gurd, wide receivers Shedrick Jackson and E.J. Williams, along with offensive linemen Niklas Henning, Isaiah Jatta, Braeden Daniels, Kamar Missouri, Dalton Wagner and Will Putnam.
Seventh-round draft pick defensive tackle Brandon Cleveland was the only selection from this year to be let go.
He was joined by defensive end Jahfari Harvey, defensive tackles Treven Ma’ae and Gary Smith III, linebacker Xavian Sorey Jr., cornerbacks Caleb Offord, Greedy Vance and Devyn Perkins and safety Devin Lafayette.
Any players not claimed by another team are eligible to be signed back to the practice squad. The Raiders also have the No. 1 waiver claim, so they have the opportunity to pick up any player waived from another team in the league.
That would mean releasing someone currently on the 53-man roster.
So things could change.
But the Raiders currently are at the limit and will go to work on fine-tuning the roster the next 24 hours.
Earlier in the day, the Raiders traded veteran offensive lineman Jordan Meredith to the Jets in a pick swap. They released wide receiver Noah Brown this week and placed defensive back Chigozie Anusiem on injured reserve.
Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on X.
