The Raiders are typically among the last teams to announce their 53-man roster. It's hard to imagine general manager Reggie McKenzie bucking that trend this year. He likes to keep moves as quiet as possible – every team can see moves, even if they aren't public – to help get guys he wants on a 10-man practice squad.
The effort is often futile. Information started trickling out Friday morning, well before Saturday afternoon's cut deadline. The Raiders will decrease their 90-man roster to 53 by then, and will certainly scour the waiver wire looking for defensive help.
It isn't a fun time for anyone in the league.
"It's always hard," Raiders head coach Jack Del Rio said. "You always try to be fair, but the reality is it's a hard day. It's really the hardest thing that we do is to have to tell young men that are really dedicated and giving us everything that they have and really have a great desire to be here and then tell them that that dream is over. They get an opportunity here, they get an opportunity in the rest of the league and they also get an opportunity on practice squad. Not only here, but the rest of the league. There are a lot of opportunities, and I hope as many of these young men can find squads as possible."
We'll post information on players waived and released right here as news breaks.
Friday
11:57 a.m.: The Raiders release running back George Atkinson III. The Raiders were set at running back and returner when they signed the son of former Raiders defensive back George Atkinson during training camp, so this move was among many expected cuts. He flashed in the preseason, though ball security remains an issue.
Sports
11:50 a.m.: Offensive lineman Kareem Are and safety Rickey Jefferson were informed of their release, per the Las Vegas Review Journal.
