Raiders make final moves to reduce roster to 53 players

After making 18 cuts on Monday, the Las Vegas Raiders the following 22 moves to trim their roster down to 53-players, per a team announcement:

Waived

• DT Zach Carter
• RB Chris Collier
• DE Jahfari Harvey
• WR Shedrick Jackson
• LB Matt Jones
• DT Treven Ma’ae
• G Atonio Mafi
• RB Sincere McCormick
• WR Tommy Mellott
• QB Cam Miller
• DE Ovie Oghoufo
• TE Carter Runyon
• WR Justin Shorter
• OL Laki Tasi
• S Trey Taylor
• CB Greedy Vance
• OT Dalton Wagner
• S JT Woods

Released

• WR Alex Bachman
• S Terrell Edmunds
• TE Albert Okwuegbunam

Placed on IR (designated for return)

• S Lonnie Johnson

Backup quarterback Aidan O’Connell is projected to be out for six to eight weeks after undergoing surgery for a fractured wrist, but curiously, he will not land on injured reserve with a return designation. The Raiders may be waiting to make that move in case they need to open up a roster spot for a waiver claim, per Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review Journal. Las Vegas also kept offensive tackle Thayer Munford, who was a risk to get claimed on waivers, according to Bonsignore.

Despite a pre-draft endorsement from Tom Brady and O’Connell’s injury, Miller was unable to hang on the 53-man roster as a third-string quarterback. The Raiders will need a backup quarterback to start the year, and Miller is an obvious candidate to return to the practice squad for early-season elevations as O’Connell heals. They could also scour the waiver wire and then transfer O’Connell to the IR.

Johnson suffered a broken fibula in early August, but it was not expected to end his season. His designation to return confirms that projection, but he will still be sidelined for a minimum of four games to start the year.