Las Vegas Raiders: 4 bold predictions after the 2021 bye week
No. 3: Dillon Stoner makes an impact
Heading into the 2021 NFL season, the Raiders had high hopes for their young wide receivers in Henry Ruggs III and Bryan Edwards. They had the same hopes, though, when the receivers were rookies last season, and they ended up often being saved by Nelson Agholor.
To avoid the same issue this year, the Raiders signed veteran wide receivers this offseason in Willie Snead and John Brown.
Ruggs and Edwards, however, were not the same players as their rookie seasons, and that was clear early on. So much so that Brown requested his release before the regular season began, knowing the targets for him would be few and far between. Snead was not far behind, recently requesting his release as well, in hopes of landing somewhere with more opportunities.
Now, the Raiders find themselves a few bodies short in the wide receiver room. To fill this hole, Las Vegas will call up WR Dillon Stoner from the practice squad.
Stoner, the undrafted Oklahoma State product, was a favorite sleeper pick by many to make the initial 53-man roster, but he ended up being released and signed back to the practice squad. Stoner had an impressive camp and opened eyes in the last preseason contest against the 49ers.
Don’t be surprised to see Stoner make an impact and even a couple of important catches down the stretch of the season.