Raiders Re-Sign LB Kana'i Mauga

Originally posted on Las Vegas Raiders on SI
By Aidan Champion | Last updated Mar 13, 2024 7:00 AM ET

The Las Vegas Raiders are bringing back linebacker Kana'i Mauga, the club announced Tuesday.

Mauga played just five games for the Raiders last season, his first active season in the league. He was initially signed by the Denver Broncos as an undrafted free agent in 2022 before being released that November. The Raiders signed Mauga to their practice squad that December.

Las Vegas signed Mauga to a reserve/future contract in January 2023. The team waived him on August 1 but brought him back later that month. Again, the Raiders waived Mauga, this time as part of the 53-man roster cuts, before signing him to the practice squad the next day.

Las Vegas elevated Mauga to the active roster a month later. He played in four straight games before being placed on injured reserve with a knee injury, which kept him out for the next five games.

Mauga returned to play just four special teams snaps in the Raiders' 3-0 loss to the Minnesota Vikings but left the game with a knee injury. He would miss the remainder of the Raiders' season.

Before signing with the Broncos in 2022, Mauga played four seasons at USC, totaling 205 combined tackles, 16.5 for losses, five sacks, three interceptions, six passes defensed, and two forced fumbles in 39 career games. He was named an All-Pac-12 honorable mention in his final season (2021). He finished fifth in the conference in solo tackles at 56 and combined tackles at 91, which led all Trojans that year.

Mauga was teammates with Raiders safety Isaiah Pola-Mao during his years at USC. Pola-Mao has been a Raider for the past two NFL seasons, having signed with the team in May 2022. He was also an undrafted free agent.

The NFL Draft will be held in Detroit, Mich., on April 25-27, 2024. The Las Vegas Raiders currently have the No. 13 overall pick.

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This article first appeared on Las Vegas Raiders on SI and was syndicated with permission.

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