Raiders shake up roster, including a surprise cut to the WR room
The Raiders release 5 players as they trim the roster from 90 to 85 players.
Tuesday afternoon was the deadline for each team leaguewide to trim their roster from 90 players to 85. As the time crept closer and closer to the deadline, Raider Nation waited anxiously to see which players were first up on the chopping block. Finally, the Silver and Black announced their decision, naming the five players who were first to go.
These players were OT Tyrone Wheatley Jr., DL Vernon Butler, DE Gerri Green, CB Nate Brooks, and a surprise cut – WR Demarcus Robinson.
Robinson follows a trend of surprise cuts that have been going on in Las Vegas since the beginning. In 2020, the Raiders surprised most people when the team parted ways with safety Damarious Randall. Entering 2021, Las Vegas was up to their old surprise cut ways when WR John Brown got the axe before the season started. Now, in 2022, the Raiders hit the trifecta with a shocking Robinson cut.
Things only get tougher from here on out for those who are fighting for a spot on the 53-man roster.
What does the Raiders cutting Demarcus Robinson mean?
Well for one, Robinson being cut means the receiving core is darn good – at least in the eyes of Josh McDaniels. To cut the former Chief so early in the process, simply means McDaniels is fully invested in the guys he has now.
For receivers such as D.J. Turner and Tyron Johnson, this is an incredible opportunity.
Earlier in this same week, it looked like Turner was on his way out as 6 talented receivers stood in front of him. With one incredible showing against Minnesota, all of that changed. Now, with Robinson out of the picture, Turner has an excellent chance to make the 53-man roster. T-Billy is in the same boat himself.
McDaniels will likely carry 5 receivers on the final roster, so Turner and T-Billy will be battling it out for that spot. However, there is an alternate path – both Turner and Robinson continue impressing McDaniels to the point the Raiders’ head coach feels he can’t let either go. If both of these young men keep doing what they’re doing, that very well may be the path Las Vegas walks.