On Wednesday, the Raiders took the practice field for the first time since the final roster cuts came down. And among them was a familiar face wearing a more familiar number.
It was veteran Gerald McCoy who was no longer sporting the number 61 he wore in training camp, but rather the number 93 he had worn throughout his 10-year NFL career and even dating back to his college years at Oklahoma.
The switch to his favorite number was what McCoy had promised would happen when he joined the team back in early August.
For everybody asking am I changing my jersey #. NOPE!! I will be 93 once season starts. pic.twitter.com/oAtVgyXzaq
— Gerald McCoy (@Geraldini93) August 9, 2021
Even after his tweet proclamation, he was asked about it when he stepped in front of the media two days later. And he reiterated his vow.
“I will be 93. Is that better?” said McCoy. “That’s a part of being a leader, man, you don’t just come in and snatch up somebody’s number. Like let some number become available first. I can be 61 in the preseason. Oh, but Monday Night Football…Yes!”
The player who McCoy would have had to “snatch” 93 had he wanted to do so was Kendal Vickers who had only worn the number the past few months. Vickers had already switched from 91 when Yannick Ngakoue joined the club back in March.
Regardless, McCoy didn’t need to ask Vickers for the number. Vickers was waived on Tuesday, making the number available for McCoy. Wednesday Vickers was signed back to the practice squad, and when he retakes the field, he will again be wearing a new number.
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