Raiders To Add WR David Moore To Practice Squad
Despite having a history with new Panthers GM Scott Fitterer and having pocketed more than $1MM fully guaranteed, David Moore did not make Carolina’s 53-man roster. Two days after his release, the former Seahawks wideout landed another gig.
The Raiders are signing Moore to their practice squad, Jeremy Fowler of ESPN.com tweets. Moore, 26, will be the most experienced pass catcher on Las Vegas’ taxi unit, but after the NFL expanded P-squads to 16 players last year, numerous veterans have landed such deals to continue their careers.
Moore served as a complementary option in Seattle but twice exceeded 400 receiving yards in a season, doing so in 2018 and ’20. He totaled 11 touchdown receptions between those campaigns, adding two more in 2019. Moore signed a two-year, $4.75MM deal with the Panthers in March.
The Raiders already have veterans Willie Snead and Zay Jones on their active roster. Moore provides additional insurance for a team set to rely on homegrown young wideouts. Las Vegas also released John Brown earlier this week.
Raiders, Yannick Ngakoue Rework Deal
The Raiders have restructured Yannick Ngakoue‘s contract (Twitter link via Field Yates of ESPN.com). The defensive end will have $12MM of his salary converted into a signing bonus to free up $8MM in cap room for the Raiders. The Raiders also added three void years to the deal to make it all work.
The will allow the Raiders to add KJ Wright and his new contract to the books. Plus, they’ll have extra cash to upgrade elsewhere during the year.
Ngakoue inked a two-year, $26MM deal with the Raiders back in March. The basics of the pact remain unchanged — Ngakoue will earn the same amount of money and remain under club control until the spring of 2023.
Jon Gruden has long been a fan of Ngakoue. Ditto for old friend Gus Bradley, his defensive coordinator in Las Vegas. The Raiders hope that Ngakoue will help to restore their once feared pass rush, which hasn’t been the same since the Khalil Mack trade.
Ngakoue, 26, is set to enter his sixth season as a pro. With 45.5 career sacks to his credit, he’s a potential difference-maker — even if the Ravens didn’t use him all that much in the playoffs. He’s not particularly strong against the run, but he averaged over nine sacks per season over his first four years in the league, and he has also demonstrated some serious play-making ability. He forced 14 fumbles in that stretch and he was directly responsible for five of the 12 defensive touchdowns the Jaguars scored between 2016 and 2019.
Raiders To Sign RB Peyton Barber
The Raiders are signing Peyton Barber off of the Washington Football Team’s practice squad, according to a source who spoke with Ben Standig of The Athletic (on Twitter). Now, the running back will join the 53-man roster in Las Vegas. 
[RELATED: Raiders Wanted Freeman]
The Raiders previously tried to claim Royce Freeman off waivers, but lost out to the Panthers due to waiver priority. Barber’s still a solid consolation prize, considering his past work. Back in 2018, he led the Buccaneers in rushing (871 yards), staving off Ronald Jones in the process.
However, Barber played on just 18% of Washington’s offensive snaps in 2020 and was on the field on 30% of Washington’s special teams plays. The 225-pound running back averaged a career-low 2.7 yards per carry last season, gaining 258 yards on 94 rushing attempts. He missed Washington’s final cut and settled for their practice squad. Now, he’ll have a chance to see the field in Week 1.
Barber will support top RBs Josh Jacobs and Kenyan Drake while Jalen Richard rehabs his injured foot.
Ravens, Raiders Wanted Royce Freeman
With J.K. Dobbins out for the season, the Ravens tried to claim Royce Freeman (Twitter link via Adam Schefter of ESPN.com). Ditto for the Raiders, Yates hears, but the Panthers ultimately nabbed Freeman on Thursday thanks to their higher waiver priority. 
For the Ravens, it’s a sign that they’re not entirely confident in their current options. For now, their RB group consists of Gus Edwards with support from third-year scat-back Justice Hill and 2020 UDFA Ty’Son Williams. It’s possible that Williams would have been let go if Freeman was claimed, despite his strong summer. Edwards profiles as the team’s RB1 for now and his 5.2 career ypc shows that he can do damage. Still, he’s never carried an RB1 workload before.
The Raiders — the Ravens’ Week 1 opponent — would have slotted Freeman behind Josh Jacobs and newcomer Kenyan Drake. That role was ticketed for Jalen Richard, but he’ll start the year on IR thanks to a foot injury.
Instead of Baltimore or Vegas, Freeman will head to Carolina. He’ll slot behind Christian McCaffrey and rookie Chuba Hubbard as he takes Trenton Cannon‘s place on the team. Freeman wasn’t much of a factor last year, but he has 297 career carries to his credit for 1,187 yards and eight touchdowns.
NFL Practice Squad Updates: 9/2/21
Here are Thursday’s practice squad moves, with the list being updated throughout the day:
Baltimore Ravens
- Signed: WR Devin Gray
Buffalo Bills
- Signed: TE Kahale Warring
Carolina Panthers
- Signed: WR Aaron Parker
- Cut: CB Rashaan Melvin
Chicago Bears
- Signed: WR Rodney Adams
Cincinnati Bengals
- Signed: WR Trenton Irwin
Cleveland Browns
- Signed: DB Tim Harris, G David Moore, K Chris Naggar, OL Jordan Steckler
Denver Broncos
- Signed: DL Jonathan Harris
Detroit Lions
- Signed: OLB Jessie Lemonier, QB Steven Montez, CB Parnell Motley, TE Jared Pinkney, TE Shane Zylstra
- Cut: OLB Rashod Berry, NT Miles Brown, TE Alize Mack, RB Dedrick Mills
Green Bay Packers
- Signed: LS Steven Wirtel
- Cut: DT Willington Previlon
Jacksonville Jaguars
- Signed: QB Kyle Lauletta, TE Matt Sokol
Las Vegas Raiders
- Signed: RB B.J. Emmons, DE Gerri Green, T Devery Hamilton, CB Madre Harper, CB Robert Jackson, C Jimmy Morrissey, OL Jeremiah Poutasi, RB Trey Ragas, LB Max Richardson, DT Niles Scott, WR Dillon Stoner, WR DJ Turner, DE Kendal Vickers
Los Angeles Chargers
- Signed: CB Brandon Facyson
Los Angeles Rams
- Signed: G Jared Hocker
Miami Dolphins
- Signed: DB Tino Ellis, WR Brandon Powell, RB Jordan Scarlett, OL Kion Smith, DL Jason Strowbridge, OL Cameron Tom
Minnesota Vikings
- Signed: WR Trishton Jackson
New York Giants
- Signed: LB Trent Harris, QB Brian Lewerke, TE Chris Myarick, WR Dante Pettis, RB Dexter Williams
- Cut: OL Jake Burton, TE Nakia Griffin-Stewart, OL Brett Heggie
New York Jets
- RB Josh Adams, DL Ronald Blair, OL Grant Hermanns, CB Lamar Jackson, WR D.J. Montgomery, OL Jimmy Murray, LB Del’Shawn Phillips, DL Hamilcar Rashed, DL Tanzel Smart, WR Vyncint Smith, OL Isaiah Williams, TE Kenny Yeboah, DE Jabari Zuniga
Philadelphia Eagles
- Signed: TE Nick Eubanks, WR KeeSean Johnson, DT Marvin Wilson
- Cut: S Grayland Arnold
Seattle Seahawks
- Signed: CB Michael Jackson
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Signed: S Andrew Adams, OLB Ladarius Hamilton, WR Jaydon Mickens, DB Troy Wagner
Minor NFL Transactions: 9/2/21
Here are Thursday’s minor moves, with the list being updated throughout the day:
Arizona Cardinals
- Released from IR with injury settlement: DL Jamell Garcia-Williams
Atlanta Falcons
- Signed: LS Josh Harris
- Claimed (from Browns): OL Colby Gossett
Carolina Panthers
- Placed on IR: WR Aaron Parker
Cincinnati Bengals
- Re-signed: WR Mike Thomas
- Placed on IR: DE Khalid Kareem
Houston Texans
- Placed on IR: S A.J. Moore
Indianapolis Colts
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: C Ryan Kelly, WR Zach Pascal, QB Carson Wentz
- Placed on IR: QB Sam Ehlinger (story), WR Dezmon Patmon
- Released from IR with injury settlement: TE Noah Togiai
Las Vegas Raiders
- Released from IR with injury settlement: LB Asmar Bial
Los Angeles Chargers
- Released from IR with injury settlement: DT Chris Okoye, OL Tyree St. Louis
Los Angeles Rams
- Placed on IR: OL Tremayne Anchrum, LB Obo Okoronkwo
- Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list: LB Chris Garrett
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: P Johnny Hekker
New England Patriots
- Released from IR with injury settlement: OL Marcus Martin
New York Giants
- Released from IR with injury settlement: WR Alex Bachman, DB Montre Hartage, TE Cole Hikutini
Philadelphia Eagles
- Claimed: CB Andre Chachere (from Chargers)
- Signed: DT Hassan Ridgeway
- Placed on IR: OL Jack Driscoll, TE Tyree Jackson, CB Josiah Scott
San Francisco 49ers
- Released from IR with injury settlement: LB Mychal Kendricks
Tampa Bay Buccaneers
- Activated from reserve/COVID-19 list: K Ryan Succop
- Placed on IR: G John Molchon
- Released from IR with injury settlement: RB Troymaine Pope
Tennessee Titans
- Released from IR with injury settlement: RB Brian Hill
Washington Football Team
- Released from IR with injury settlement: OT Rick Leonard
Raiders Place LB Nick Morrow, RB Jalen Richard On IR
The Raiders are placing four players on IR. Running back Jalen Richard, linebacker Nick Morrow, and defensive backs Keisean Nixon and Javin White will be shelved for at least the first three weeks of the season, per NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero (via Twitter). To take the open roster spots, the team has signed offensive lineman Jermaine Eluemunor and re-signed both tight end Derek Carrier and safety Dallin Leavitt. (via ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez on Twitter).
Richard has spent five seasons with the Raiders, including a 2018 campaign where he finished with 866 yards from scrimmage. He hasn’t been able to match that production over the past two years, combining for only 729 yards from scrimmage in 29 games. The 27-year-old is expected to be a primary backup to Josh Jacobs for another season in 2021.
Morrow had a career year for the Raiders in 2020, finishing with career-highs across the board. The linebacker has been dealing with a foot injury since late August, and he was expected to be sidelined for the start of the regular season. The team brought in some reinforcement at the position today when they signed veteran K.J. Wright.
Nixon has appeared in 29 games for the Raiders over the past two years, turning into one of the team’s special teams stalwarts. White, a 2020 undrafted free agent out of UNLV, got into four games with the Raiders as a rookie.
Raiders To Sign LB K.J. Wright
K.J. Wright‘s lengthy offseason in free agency looks like it is coming to an end. The veteran linebacker is expected to sign a one-year deal with the Raiders, NFL reporter Josina Anderson tweets. The Raiders met with Wright nearly a month ago, and the parties are belatedly moving forward on an agreement.
The Raiders have battled some linebacker injury trouble and acquired Denzel Perryman from the Panthers last week. While Perryman played for new Las Vegas DC Gus Bradley, so did Wright. Bradley was Seattle’s DC during Wright’s first two NFL seasons nearly a decade ago.
After the Seahawks drafted Jordyn Brooks in the 2020 first round, it appeared Wright would not receive a fourth contract from the team. This Las Vegas agreement will lead to Wright’s first relocation since entering the NFL.
The Seahawks took Wright in the 2011 fourth round and used him as a starter for 10 seasons. The veteran defender was open to a Seattle return but did not want to do so on a discount. However, it is unlikely Wright’s Raiders agreement will approach the two-year, $14MM Seahawks pact he signed in 2019.
Vegas’ linebacking corps brings together a mix of holdovers and former Bradley charges, but this now looks like a deep group that could be considerably better than last year’s corps. The Raiders kept seven linebackers on roster cutdown day, including third-round pick Divine Deablo, who is transitioning from safety. The Silver and Black also have returning starters Cory Littleton, Nick Kwiatkoski and Nicholas Morrow on the roster. Morrow has battled an ankle injury, leading to the Perryman acquisition. Wright is unlikely to be joining the Raiders to be a backup, so Vegas’ starting lineup stands to undergo more changes ahead of the season.
Wright, 32, has made 140 starts over the course of his career, working as an outside linebacker in the Seahawks’ 4-3 scheme. Despite his unattached status since March, Wright graded as a top-10 off-ball ‘backer (per Pro Football Focus) last season. He has five 100-plus-tackle seasons, and he notched 11 tackles for loss and 10 passes defensed last year. No only player accomplished that particular double-double in 2020.
Wednesday NFL Transactions: AFC West
Following the 53-man roster cutdown deadline Tuesday, many teams will make slight tweaks to their rosters. In addition to waiver claims, teams can begin constructing their 16-man practice squads today. These Broncos, Chargers, Chiefs and Raiders moves will be noted below.
Here are Wednesday’s AFC West transactions, which will continue to be updated throughout the day.
Denver Broncos
Signed:
- OT Cameron Fleming, DL Shamar Stephen
Waived:
Placed on IR:
- RB Mike Boone, CB Michael Ojemudia
Signed to practice squad:
- OT Quinn Bailey, TE Shaun Beyer, WR Tyrie Cleveland, RB Damarea Crockett, CB Nate Hairston, OT Drew Himmelman, WR Kendall Hinton, CB Mac McCain III, LB Curtis Robinson, QB Brett Rypien, OL Austin Schlottmann, DL Marquiss Spencer, LB Barrington Wade, WR Seth Williams
Kansas City Chiefs
Signed:
- WR Marcus Kemp
Placed on reserve/COVID-19 list:
- S Tyrann Mathieu; Mathieu tested positive for COVID-19
Las Vegas Raiders
Los Angeles Chargers
Claimed:
- DL Eric Banks (from Rams), DB Trey Marshall (from Broncos)
Waived:
- CB Brandon Facyson, DL Forrest Merrill
Signed to practice squad:
- WR Michael Bandy, RB Darius Bradwell, LB Cole Christiansen, DB Ben DeLuca, OLB Emeke Egbule, DL Breiden Fehoko, DL Joe Gaziano, G Nate Gilliam, G Ryan Hunter, TE Hunter Kampmoyer, WR Jason Moore Jr., WR Joe Reed
Raiders Trim Roster To 53
Some of the Raiders’ cuts became known earlier Tuesday, with the team parting ways with Karl Joseph and John Brown. Here are the rest of the moves Las Vegas made to reach the 53-man roster limit:
Released:
Waived:
- LB Asmar Bilal (waived/injured)
- TE Matt Bushman
- G Lester Cotton
- DT Matt Dickerson
- WR Keelan Doss
- TE Alex Ellis (waived/injured)
- RB B.J. Emmons
- DE Gerri Green
- RB Garrett Groshek
- OT Devery Hamilton
- CB Isaiah Johnson
- OL Jaryd Jones-Smith
- S Dallin Leavitt
- C Jimmy Morrissey
- OL Jeremiah Poutasi
- RB Trey Ragas
- LB Max Richardson
- DT Niles Scott
- WR Dillon Stoner
- WR DJ Turner
- DE Kendal Vickers
Several of these players will be invited to stick around on Las Vegas’ practice squad, with the NFL greenlighting a second year of 16-man taxi squads. The Raiders’ cutting Brown and Doss keeps Willie Snead and Zay Jones on their active roster. Johnson played a part-time role on the Raiders’ defense last season, while Carrier has been with the team for the past four years. The Raiders re-signed him in March. Wreh-Wilson was aiming to catch on for a ninth NFL season, and while the former Titans and Falcons cornerback may do so, the Raiders halted his effort to land on their initial 53-man roster.