Add another 30-something to Jon Gruden‘s offseason haul. Clinton McDonald will join the Raiders, Ian Rapoport of NFL.com reports (on Twitter).
Cut by the Broncos after the preseason, McDonald appeared on the Raiders’ radar Wednesday. Despite the team visiting with 26-year-old Johnathan Hankins, one of the NFL’s top interior defenders in 2017, they’ll go with the 31-year-old McDonald for the time being.
A Hankins addition may not be off the table, but McDonald will attempt to fill the void created by Justin Ellis‘ foot injury. McDonald has served as a starter for two seasons, with the 2016 Buccaneers and NFC champion Seahawks in 2014, but has mostly been a backup contributor. He recorded five sacks for the Bucs last season, despite starting only three games. McDonald’s posted three five-plus-sack seasons, the other two coming with both recent NFC champion Seattle teams.
In addition to Ellis having strained multiple foot ligaments, rookie interior defender P.J. Hall was wearing a walking boot at Wednesday’s practice, per Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com (Twitter link). He suffered an injury during the first series of the Raiders’ loss to the Rams.