Through the Raiders’ first three exhibition games, wide receiver Rod Streater hadn’t done much.
Slowed by illness this summer, Streater has been limited in training camp and preseason games, and the wideout – presumed to be the No. 3 receiver behind Michael Crabtree and Amari Cooper going into camp – hadn’t made much of a splash. He had just four short catches for 26 total yards.
But Thursday night, in the preseason finale against the Seahawks in Seattle, Streater hauled in a 28-yard pass from Matt McGloin for a touchdown in the third quarter of the Raiders’ 31-21 loss. It was one of three balls he caught on the night, good for a total of 37 yards.
On the TD catch, Streater showed why he can be a big asset to a Raiders offense that missed him most all of last season: He made a nice adjustment on the throw by McGloin, and flashed his size and speed.
And, with another good night by receivers Seth Roberts (seven catches, 110 yards, touchdown) and Brice Butler (four catches, 62 yards), the Raiders receiving corps – a weak spot in 2014 – suddenly looks solid. The final lineup of wide receivers won’t be known until 1 p.m. on Saturday (Pacific time) when NFL rosters have to reach the 53-man limit, but Oakland could have a group of Crabtree, Cooper, Streater, Roberts and Butler.
