David Irving

Latest On Free Agent DL David Irving

It’s been more than two months since David Irving was released by the Raiders, and the veteran defensive lineman is still looking for his next gig. Speaking with reporter Aaron Wilson, the free agent said that his next team will be adding a motivated, talented player.

“I want to show people who David Irving really is,” the 27-year-old said (via Wilson on Twitter). “I’m a fighter. I want to dominate, and it’s a different mindset. I’m feeling explosive and I’m ready for anything that comes by way. I’m ready to play and I can’t wait to play football again.”

After getting reinstated by the NFL from his indefinite suspension back in October, Irving ended up catching on with the Raiders for the 2020 campaign. He spent time traveling between the active roster and the practice squad, and he ultimately saw time in two games for Las Vegas, collecting four tackles while playing in only 4-percent of his team’s defensive snaps.

He ended up re-signing with the Raiders back in February, but the team released him only a few months later. Before re-upping with Vegas, Irving also worked out for the Colts and Lions, so there weren’t a lack of suitors at the beginning of the offseason.

While more interest may develop, Irving is nearly four years removed from his last season of consequence. The 6-foot-7 pass rusher did log seven sacks in eight games with the Cowboys in 2017; that has likely continued to generate interest. Since then, he’s only seen time in four NFL games, and it remains to be seen whether he’ll get another shot in the NFL.

Raiders Release DL David Irving

Despite not seeing much time with the Raiders last season, David Irving generated some interest in free agency this year. But the former Cowboys regular opted to re-sign with the Raiders. That deal did not end up lasting too long.

The Raiders released Irving on Friday. This is not the first time such a transaction has occurred. Las Vegas signed Irving midway through last season but cut him on multiple occasions, shuttling him to its practice squad. With practice squads not forming until September, Irving is back in free agency.

Irving played in two games last season, logging just 45 snaps, and has suited up for just four over the past three years. Suspensions have dogged the 27-year-old D-lineman, but he has avoided any bans since his most recent reinstatement last fall. The ex-Cowboys starter worked out for the Colts and Lions this offseason as well. While more interest may develop, Irving is nearly four years removed from his last season of consequence.

The 6-foot-7 pass rusher did log seven sacks in eight games in 2017; that has likely continued to generate interest. It will be interesting to see if the former Chiefs UDFA can land with a fourth NFL team.

Las Vegas added several defensive line pieces this offseason, signing Yannick Ngakoue and using a third-round pick on fellow defensive end Malcolm Koonce. Former top-five pick Solomon Thomas and Quinton Jefferson are also now with the Raiders. Like Irving, each has experience working at both D-end and D-tackle.

Raiders Bring Back DL David Irving

David Irving booked multiple visits to other teams early this offseason, but the veteran defensive lineman will make his way back to Las Vegas.

The Raiders and Irving agreed on a deal that will keep this partnership going for a second year. The team announced the move. After the NFL reinstated him midway through last season, Irving signed with the Raiders. He will stick around and hope to see more playing time.

Known mostly for his work in Dallas and issues with the NFL’s drug policies, Irving made visits to Detroit and Indianapolis this year. But he opted for a second season with Raiders D-line coach Rod Marinelli, who was previously his defensive coordinator in Dallas. Irving will work in a new system, however, with Gus Bradley now overseeing Las Vegas’ defense.

While Irving landed with the Raiders in October of last year, he played in just two games with the team and saw action on just 40 total defensive snaps in his initial Vegas season. A former Chiefs UDFA, Irving has shown flashes previously. He registered seven sacks in eight games with the 2017 Cowboys, moving to primarily an inside-rushing role. However, issues with the league’s substance-abuse policy led to Irving missing the 2019 season. Irving has incurred four suspensions since entering the league in 2015.

The 27-year-old defender has not had a full offseason with a team since 2018. A suspension and an off-field issue interrupted Irving’s 2018. Back in the NFL’s good graces, Irving will attempt to rebound this year.

Lions Host DL David Irving On Visit

Although David Irving only played in two Raiders games this past season, the former Cowboys defensive lineman continues to generate interest during Super Bowl week.

A day after the Colts brought Irving in, the Lions followed suit. Irving was in Detroit for a visit, per Field Yates of ESPN.com (on Twitter).

Irving, 27, has run into multiple suspensions — for substance abuse and performance-enhancing drugs — and has only played in four games over the past three seasons. But the potential the former UDFA showed prior to that has likely continued to keep him on the radar. In eight games with the 2017 Cowboys, Irving registered seven sacks. In 15 games with the 2016 Dallas squad that earned the NFC’s No. 1 seed, Irving tallied four sacks and 15 quarterback hits.

Irving has worked as both a defensive end and inside pass rusher in four NFL seasons. The Raiders signed the Iowa State alum quickly after the NFL reinstated him last year but released him from their practice squad, but the veteran D-lineman could have a new home soon.

Colts Work Out DL David Irving

David Irving‘s comeback from his latest suspension produced only two Raiders games and a subsequent release from Las Vegas’ practice squad. He secured another tryout opportunity Tuesday.

The Colts are hosting the free agent defensive lineman, Tom Pelissero of NFL.com tweets. The Raiders released Irving from their practice squad last month. Colts defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus was in Dallas during Irving’s time with the team, giving the free agent D-lineman an interesting potential path to Indianapolis.

Prior to the Raiders signing Irving midway through last season, the former promising Cowboys pass rusher spent nearly two years in free agency. Drug suspensions have dogged the ex-UDFA, but once the NFL reinstated him in October, he landed a Raiders visit and contract offer within a few days.

Irving, 27, played only 40 defensive snaps with the Raiders. He spent time on the franchise’s reserve/COVID-19 list later in the season and did not return to action.

With the Cowboys, Irving ran into PED and substance-abuse suspensions but showed promise between the 2017-18 seasons. He racked up 11 sacks in that time, including a seven-sack 2017 season — during he which the interior rusher only played eight games.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 12/22/20

Here are Tuesday’s practice squad decisions:

Arizona Cardinals

Atlanta Falcons

  • Placed on practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: DE Anthony Edwards

Baltimore Ravens

Carolina Panthers

  • Activated off practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: WR Ishmael Hyman

Chicago Bears

  • Signed: RB Spencer Ware
  • Activated off practice squad injured list: WR Thomas Ives

Cleveland Browns

  • Placed on practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: DB Elijah Benton

Detroit Lions

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

  • Placed on practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: DE David Irving

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

New Orleans Saints

New York Giants

San Francisco 49ers

Seattle Seahawks

  • Released: OL Andrew Jones

Washington Football Team

Minor NFL Transactions: 11/21/20

Here is Saturday’s usual flood of minor moves:

Atlanta Falcons

Carolina Panthers

Cleveland Browns

Dallas Cowboys

Denver Broncos

Green Bay Packers

Houston Texans

Jacksonville Jaguars

Indianapolis Colts

Kansas City Chiefs

Las Vegas Raiders

Los Angeles Chargers

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

Minnesota Vikings

New England Patriots

New Orleans Saints

New York Jets

Philadelphia Eagles

Pittsburgh Steelers

Washington Football Team

Seven Raiders Defenders To Come Off Reserve/COVID-19 List

While the Raiders practiced without several defenders this week, they are at least on track to have those players in uniform Sunday night against the Chiefs.

After continuing to test negative for COVID-19, seven Raider defenders will come off the team’s coronavirus list Saturday, Paul Gutierrez of ESPN.com tweets. Johnathan Abram, Johnathan Hankins, Arden Key, Maliek Collins, cornerback Isaiah Johnson and defensive lineman Kendal Vickers will be activated Saturday. David Irving is set to come off Las Vegas’ practice squad COVID-19 list, per Gutierrez.

The Raiders placed these seven players on their reserve/COVID list earlier this week, preventing each from practicing. They joined Lamarcus Joyner in that regard; the Raiders activated Joyner on Friday. This octet profiled as close contacts of Clelin Ferrell, who tested positive for the coronavirus earlier this week. Abram, Hankins, Key, Collins, Johnson and Vickers will be eligible to play against the Chiefs if their most recent COVID tests come back negative Sunday morning. Irving must be activated off the Raiders’ practice squad to suit up in Week 11.

Unlike Week 7’s Raiders-Buccaneers game — which was moved out of the Sunday-night window after Las Vegas’ first-string offensive line did not practice all week because of Trent Brown‘s positive COVID test — the NFL did not switch this week’s Raiders-Chiefs rematch out of the Sunday-night time slot.

NFL Practice Squad Updates: 11/18/20

Here are Wednesday’s practice squad moves:

Carolina Panthers

Cincinnati Bengals

  • Signed: CB Trajan Bandy, CB Donnie Lewis

Houston Texans

  • Signed: WR Artavis Scott

Las Vegas Raiders

  • Placed on practice squad reserve/COVID-19 list: DL David Irving

Los Angeles Rams

Miami Dolphins

New England Patriots

  • Signed: DT Nick Thurman
  • Activated from practice squad IR: TE Jake Burt

Raiders Promote David Irving, Activate Damon Arnette

David Irving will have a chance to play in his first game since October 2018 on Sunday. The Raiders are activating the defensive lineman from their practice squad.

Irving will join first-round pick Damon Arnette in being on the team’s 55-man game-day roster. Las Vegas moved Arnette back to its active roster from IR. The Ohio State-developed cornerback has run into multiple instances of thumb trouble as a rookie.

The Raiders added Irving to their practice squad last month, doing so shortly after the NFL reinstated the oft-suspended inside pass rusher. The Cowboys let Irving walk in free agency in 2018, doing so after he played in only two games for the team in 2018.

Irving has been suspended four times, with his most recent substance-abuse ban sidelining him for over a year. He has shown flashes as a productive rusher, most notably in 2017 when he recorded seven sacks in eight games. The Raiders rank 31st this season with just nine sacks.

Arnette initially broke his thumb during training camp but landed on it awkwardly against the Patriots in September. He has played in just three games as a pro. The Raiders surprised many by taking Arnette at No. 19 overall. They are yet again having issues against the pass — an evergreen issue for the team — and enter Week 10 ranked 30th in defensive DVOA. A 32nd-ranked rush defense also contributes to that ranking.

The Raiders also promoted offensive lineman Jaryd Jones-Smith from their practice squad.