Derek Carr is the Raiders' unquestioned starting quarterback and Mike Glennon's the early and odds-on favorite to be his primary backup,.
That left Nathan Peterman and Landry Jones to battle for a third spot that may or may not be there come September.
The competition didn't last long. Jones was released on Wednesday afternoon, to make room for new tight end Erik Swoope and keep the Raiders roster at its 90-man maximum.
Jones played five seasons in Pittsburgh and 2018 in Jacksonville before signing with the Raiders in late March.
The 30-year old Jones had experience, but head coach Jon Gruden sees potential in Peterman despite a rocky start to his career in Buffalo.
Jones' release came a day after Peterman made several quality throws in a Tuesday OTA practice open to the media. If he had been doing that in private portions of the offseason program, releasing Jones may have been an easier move.
Swoope joins a packed tight end position group that also includes Darren Waller, Derek Carrier, Luke Willson, Paul Butler and fourth-round draft pick Foster Moreau.
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Something will have to give in that position group over time, with far more bodies than roster spots. Waller seems like a lock and Moreau's most certainly on board, leaving one or two openings available for the rest. Things could get competitive there, especially if Swoope shows well and Willson flashes old form.
Swoope spent four seasons with Indianapolis, highlighted by a 2016 with 15 receptions for 297 yards and a touchdown.
The Raiders are now in phase III of the offseason program, with another OTA session Thursday and seven more spread over the next two weeks.
