3 observations from the Oakland Raiders initial 53-man roster

GLENDALE, ARIZONA - AUGUST 15: Head coach Jon Gruden of the Oakland Raiders reacts during the first half of the NFL preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on August 15, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
GLENDALE, ARIZONA - AUGUST 15: Head coach Jon Gruden of the Oakland Raiders reacts during the first half of the NFL preseason game against the Arizona Cardinals at State Farm Stadium on August 15, 2019 in Glendale, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)
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OAKLAND, CA – DECEMBER 02: Tahir Whitehead #59 of the Oakland Raiders celebrates after a play against the Kansas City Chiefs during their NFL game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on December 2, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA – DECEMBER 02: Tahir Whitehead #59 of the Oakland Raiders celebrates after a play against the Kansas City Chiefs during their NFL game at Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum on December 2, 2018 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)

Four linebackers

While it will not likely be the case when the Raiders open up their regular season, the 53-man roster currently only consists of four linebackers. Tahir Whitehead, Vontaze Burfict, Marquel Lee, and Nicholas Morrow are the only linebackers currently listed on the 53-man roster, as guys like Te’von Coney, Kyle Wilber, and Jason Cabinda were released over the past few days.

One veteran who was supposed to come in and start that is no longer with the team is Brandon Marshall, who was one of the first players cut on Friday. Marshall was with the Raiders as he was trying to prove he was healthy enough to compete in 2019, and while he feels he is ready, the Raiders had no spot for him.

Cabinda was another surprising cut, as he is a young linebacker who appears to have the chops to make it in the NFL. Coney was an undrafted rookie that many felt would stay, but he was also let go. There were some big name linebackers available after cuts, like Kiko Alonso, but he went on and was traded to the New Orleans Saints.

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