Going into this summer’s training camp, Seth Roberts looked in jeopardy.
The fifth-year wide receiver – known for both big plays and big drops since he joined the team in 2014 – figured to be in an against-the-odds fight to make the final 53-man roster for the regular season because of a deeper and more talented group of wideouts competing.
Yet Roberts didn’t even suit up in Oakland’s final exhibition game Thursday night vs. the Seahawks. According to the Raiders, he had nothing to prove. Though he didn’t catch a single pass in the first three exhibition games, Roberts already had made the team, according to head coach Jon Gruden in comments after the game to reporters.
“I like Seth Roberts,” Gruden said. “I think he’s proven that he’s a good player in this league. He had eight or nine days he was away, he was injured. We know what we have in Seth Roberts. He’ll be an Oakland Raider this year and we’re happy about that.”
Roberts last season had a career-high 43 catches for 455 yards and a touchdown. He has 197 catches as a Raider.
Roberts will join a wide receiver group of Amari Cooper, Jordy Nelson, Martavis Bryant and Dwayne Harris (who also will handle return duties). Oakland is expected to carry six wide receivers, so Gruden will have to pick from among rookie Marcell Ateman, Johnny Holton and Keon Hatcher – who had a huge game vs. Seattle Thursday night with eight catches, more than 100 yards receiving and three touchdowns.
Ateman, a 6-foot-4 seventh-round pick in this spring’s draft out of Oklahoma State, is the leader to be the final wideout. He led the Raiders in receiving this summer with 12 catches for 139 yards.
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The Raiders will have to make their cuts to get down to the 53-player limit on Saturday.
