Raiders activate CB Sam Webb from practice squad due to depth issues

Depth issues at cornerback leads Raiders to activate CB Sam Webb from practice squad

Four cornerbacks isn’t nearly enough. That’s what the Raiders had available to them for the season opener against the Chargers. Mainly because injuries have depleted the depth at the position.

To help account for these depth issues, the team activated practice squad CB Sam Webb on Saturday.

Webb could be the next man up after the three starters, which means he could see the field a fair amount.

Nate Hobbs, Jack Jones, and Jakorian Bennett will start at the three cornerback spots. The two cornerbacks who were supposed to be behind them were Brandon Facyson and DeCamerion Richards. But both are injured and won’t play. Facyson is on IR and Richards was ruled OUT on this week’s final injury report.

They signed Darnay Holmes last week and typically you’d prefer to have a cornerback in the mix longer than that before throwing him on the field.

Webb is entering his third season with the Raiders, so he is well versed in this defense. Making it a no-brainer that he get the call up for this game.

Brandon Facyson IR trip puts Raiders woefully thin at cornerback

Brandon Facyson IR trip puts Raiders woefully thin at cornerback

Something will have to give here. Wednesday the Raiders placed Brandon Facyson on injured reserve, which means he will miss at least the first four games of the season. And leaving the Raiders in a precarious position at the position.

As of right now they have the three starters — Nate Hobbs, Jack Jones, and Jakorian Bennett — and rookie fourth round pick DeCamerion Richardson.

And that’s it.

Obviously that means one injury and they’re starting a fourth round rookie. Which is bad enough. But even if Richardson were a player they could trust to handle the job, it still leaves them with a real depth problem.

They would have the option of activating a cornerback from the practice squad each week until Facyson returns. Currently that cornerback would be Sam Webb. But that seems a tad ridiculous, especially considering so long as he is on the practice squad he is vulnerable to getting poached by another team.

I wouldn’t expect this situation to remain as it is now. I’d expect they will continue to seek to bring in a fifth cornerback.

10 veterans and returning Raiders firmly on roster bubble

There are a lot of new faces in Raiders camp this year. And with new faces comes new competition to beat out familiar faces. Likewise there are a few veteran players on this team who could see their jobs taken by new blood. These are the ten …

There are a lot of new faces in Raiders camp this year. And with new faces comes new competition to beat out familiar faces. Likewise there are a few veteran players on this team who could see their jobs taken by new blood.

These are the ten returning Raiders and veterans most in danger of being on the outside looking in come roster cutdown day.

This eight-year veteran backup is only here because he’s familiar with Luke Getsy’s system. That only goes so far though. The team could very decide to keep only two quarterbacks on the active roster. And it wouldn’t take much for a more intriguing option to come available on the waiver wire.

Along with being injured through most of camp, this sixth year veteran just hasn’t looked special in his time on the field. Other than Tom Telesco knowing him from their time with the Chargers, Guyton doesn’t really offer anything invaluable to the team. They could be better off taking a chance on Tyreik McAllister or snagging a talented receiver on the waiver wire.

This sixth-year veteran appeared in one game for the Raiders last season. The Raiders would have to, first of all, keep four tight ends for him to stick. And second of all, he’d have to prove he is the best choice. And quite frankly Cole Fotheringham has looked better.

Meredith has been with the Raiders the past two seasons and appeared in 17 games last season. There is eight offensive lineman ahead of him, all of whom have a very good chance of making this roster. He is the one who will be sweating it out on Tuesday and probably Wednesday as well.

He appeared in just six games as a rookie, with no starts. Not exactly what you hope to get from a third round pick. He has admitted he had an attitude problem, which is commendable. But his level of play has not offered any indication that he has made a second year leap. He was on the field a lot in the finale, after which head coach Antonio Pierce was not at all pleased with the play of the interior line.

Nesta Jade Silvera was also in that 2023 class. He was selected in the seventh round. He was also on that line that was getting gashed on the ground against the 49ers. There has been an opening for someone to step up and be the fourth interior defensive lineman. Has he shown he can be that guy? I’m not sure he has.

Is it possible the Raiders could cut all three of these former drafted defensive tackles? Sure it is. Antonio Pierce made it clear that he will be looking to the waiver to try and improve the depth along the interior defensive line. There is a chance one of these three sticks on the initial 53, but it’s just as likely that will be a short stay in favor of a waiver claim.

This 2023 sixth round pick looked good at times this preseason. But he hasn’t been able to stay healthy. Meanwhile undrated rookie Amari Gainer has looked great. If Burney doesn’t head for injured reserve, he may just lose out to Gainer.

Speaking of guys who can’t stay healthy. Facyson missed almost the entire 2023 season and now he’s been missing since early in camp. If the best ability is availability, the Raiders can’t hang onto him in the hopes that he can get healthy and stay that way. Either he heads to IR, or they give up on him and move on.

Smith has a fairly good chance of sticking around. But he’s down the depth chart far enough that he is in some danger here. The Raiders selected the Jim Thorpe Award winner Trey Taylor in this past draft, so you’d figure they’d like to hold onto him, making Smith potentially the fifth safety, providing they keep that many safeties on the initial 53.

See my full Raiders 53-man roster prediction

Raiders 2024 camp position battle: Cornerback

One of the cornerback spots is wide open for the Raiders. Is the starter currently on the team?

Outside cornerback was a bit of a revolving door last season. The starters at the beginning of the season were rookie Jakorian Bennett on the left and veteran Marcus Peters on the right. And neither were starting by season’s end.

Four games in, Bennett was benched in favor of Amik Robertson. Then ten games in, Peters was benched for waiver pickup Jack Jones.

Jones played well enough to keep the starting job. Amik Robertson left in free agency, leaving the left side up for grabs this offseason.

As of right now there are two guys competing for the job.

Jakorian Bennett vs Brandon Facyson

The veteran Facyson might have been the starter coming into last season had he not been injured in camp, thus opening the door for Bennett. Now they battle for that spot once again.

The two rotated work with the first team defense during minicamp, with Bennett coming away with a couple interceptions. Bennett has speed to burn while the seventh-year veteran Facyson is more of a proven talent, though only once starting more than four games in a season.

My take:

This competition is far from settled. It could be one of these two or…someone else entirely.

I wouldn’t be surprised if by the time camp begins, there is another name who enters this competition. There are still a few good cornerback options unsigned who would either offer an immediate starter or heat up the competition at that spot. Stephon Gilmore, Adoree Jackson, and Ahkello Witherspoon top that list.

5 positions for Raiders that will have new starters in 2024

5 positions for Raiders that will have new starters in 2024

Every new season brings change. Some change is not yet known. While some we know already. For instance, there will be new starters at several positions for the Raiders this season. These are the positions we know will change hands.

Jakorian Bennett picks off Aidan O’Connell to open Raiders minicamp

Jakorian Bennett opens Raiders minicamp with a statement interception

The next phase of the Raiders offseason began today with the start of their three-day mandatory minicamp. These practices are designed to mimic the start of training camp in order to give the players a taste of what to expect when they return in five weeks to get ready for the season.

For that reason, these practices are the most important thus far this offseason.

One player who has been making a case to be a starter this season is second-year cornerback Jakorian Bennett. He’s been lining up with the ones all offseason and today, he showed everyone why.

One a play late in practice, he broke the ice with the first takeaway for the Raiders defense. Aidan O’Connell rolled left and threw it short where Bennett stepped in front of it and hauled it in.

O’Connell had been having a decent practice prior to that, including a perfect throw to the back left corner of the end zone for Jalen Guyton. But that one was one he would like to have back.

For Bennett’s part, he is in a competition with veteran former starter Brandon Facyson to be the starter opposite Jack Jones, with Nate Hobbs manning the nickel spot. That interception should go a long way to making Bennett’s case and for the former fourth round pick to show he is ready to get the starting job back that he lost four games into his rookie season.

Hobbs took issue with a question suggesting that Bennett’s issue to start last season was a lack of confidence.

“I don’t like when people say ‘he’s trying to get confident’,” Hobbs said. “He’s confident. You’re in the NFL for a reason. Whether it looks like you got beat on the play and your confidence is down, that’s how it looks to the outside world. I feel like he’s a confident young man and he brings it every day. Some people need a little bit to get started. And when he gets started, he’s a competitor. And so he’s confident to me.”

Three seasons ago, Hobbs was in the same situation as Bennett was last season. Both were mid-round draft picks who were starters right out the gates. But Hobbs had instant success. Bennett struggled early on and it was clear he needed a bit more time to find his footing in the NFL and in this defense.

Now heading into his second season in the NFL and in the same scheme, this is when the team expects him to be ready.

5 potential Raiders offseason cuts

5 potential Raiders offseason cuts and cap ramifications

There is a bit of house cleaning that needs to happen this offseason for the Raiders. Currently they have around $38.8 million in cap space. That lands them at 12th most in the league. But they can do better. 

Cuts aren’t always about cap savings, to be clear. But sometimes it’s either the main reason for the cut or a nice byproduct. Should they make all five of the cuts below, the Raiders would save an additional $13.86 million to bring their space under the cap to $52.64 million. That would jump them up to 8th in the league as it currently stands.

Ballers & Busters for Raiders Week 18 win over Broncos

Ballers & Busters for Raiders Week 18 win over Broncos

For the fourth straight season, the Raiders complete the sweep of the Broncos. That’s right, the Las Vegas Raiders have never lost to the Broncos.

Raiders, Vikings final injury report: LT Kolton Miller (shoulder) OUT

Raiders LT Kolton Miller (shoulder) OUT is Vikings

Sunday when the Raiders host the Vikings, they will do so without their starting left tackle. This will be the third time in four games that Kolton Miller will be sidelined with a shoulder injury as he has been officially ruled OUT.

Miller had missed the team’s Week 10 and 11 games against the Jets and Dolphins. In both instances, it was right tackle Jermaine Eluemunor who moved over to left tackle to start at left tackle. While Thayer Munford starter at right tackle.

The Raiders could see Brandon Facyson for the first time this season. He is coming off injured reserve with a shin injury and is Questionable for the game. Should be active for the game, and with the uncertainty at outside cornerback, he could see good playing time, and possibly get the start.

Also Questionable for the Raiders is EDGE Maxx Crosby (knee). But he was doubtful for their last game and still played, so it seems likely he would play in this one as well.

Raiders send CB Brandon Facyson to injured reserve

Brandon Facyson placed on IR, which means he is out for at least four games.

On the same day the Raiders ruled out Brandon Facyson for the season opener, they sat him down for at least four games.

The veteran cornerback was placed on injured reserve today. No corresponding move was announced because the team has until Saturday to announce an addition and have them available for the opener in Denver and they intend to take the time allotted.

Facyson has been out for a while with a shin injury. He missed much of camp, so the team is prepared to start someone else at the position. That is if Facyson would have won the job had he been healthy.

Starting on the opposite side will be veteran Marcus Peters with Nate Hobbs starting in the slot. Those currently on the roster who could start and/or see significant time at outside cornerback include Amik Robertson, David Long Jr, and rookie fourth-round pick Jakorian Bennett.

Tyler Hall and Sam Webb — who both started three games last season for the Raiders — are currently on the practice squad.

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