Raiders 53-man roster projection after preseason opener
By Brad Weiss
![OAKLAND, CA - AUGUST 10: Head coach Jon Gruden of the Oakland Raiders looks on from the sidelines against the Detroit Lions in the second quarter of an NFL preseason football game at Oakland Alameda Coliseum on August 10, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) OAKLAND, CA - AUGUST 10: Head coach Jon Gruden of the Oakland Raiders looks on from the sidelines against the Detroit Lions in the second quarter of an NFL preseason football game at Oakland Alameda Coliseum on August 10, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/https-3A-2F-2Fjustblogbaby-com-2Fwp-content-2Fuploads-2Fgetty-images-2F2017-2F07-2F1014830224-850x560-45a57e1d08379e20d96cedaed93d1ee61626067fa09136f7ada790f7116034ee.jpg)
Wide Receiver (6): Jordy Nelson, Martavis Bryant, Amari Cooper, Ryan Switzer, Seth Roberts, Marcell Ateman
The first reception of the preseason went to Jordy Nelson, who has developed quite the relationship with Derek Carr this summer. He and Amari Cooper were the starting wide receivers on Friday against the Detroit Lions, and that was no surprise, as that will be the case all season long.
Martavis Bryant has had issues learning the playbook this summer, but you cannot deny his talent, or his role on this team. Ryan Switzer was a guy who definitely stole the show against the Lions, scoring the Raiders only touchdown, on a solid move in the end zone to get open for the score.
Those four guys are going to be on the 53-man roster, but after them, is where it gets tricky when it comes to the guys who will be taking on Los Angeles in Week 1. Rookie Marcell Ateman was a seventh round pick, and will have to work to make this team, but he is making his presence felt. He has looked great in practice, and followed that up with a four-catch performance in his NFL debut.
The final guy I am putting on the 53-man for now is Seth Roberts, who was given a bunch of money by the team this offseason. Roberts did not play in the game, and has been out of practice, so his time with the Raiders may be on thin ice.
Still, as of the second week of preseason, he is still a favorite to make the team out of camp, but as we have seen already with Gruden, things change a lot from week to week.