ALAMEDA – Ryan Grant was the first receiver up to replace Antonio Brown after the Raiders cut the mercurial star receiver at the end of training camp. That assignment lasted two games, without a passing grade.
Grant was demoted following a Week 2 performance against Kansas City where he had one catch for minus-2 yards on five targets. He had three receptions for 16 yards in Week 1
Those two showings made him a healthy scratch for Sunday's game against Minnesota and, when combined with last week's trade for Trevor Davis, suggested he might be the next man out.
Grant was formally released Wednesday morning as a corresponding move to linebacker Justin Phillips' getting called up from the practice squad.
Phillips' promotion also suggests either Nicholas Morrow or Vontaze Burfict are in danger of missing Sunday's Week 4 game at Indianapolis. The Silver and Black signed Dakota Allen off the L.A. Rams practice squad to make up for Marquel Lee's move to injured reserve, but more coverage at linebacker is needed.
The Raiders also employed seven receivers, a glut easily trimmed to aid another position group.
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They weren't going to cut rookie Keelan Doss, who just got a guaranteed $775,000 to return to the Raiders from Jacksonville's practice squad. Davis just got here and has return abilities the Raiders desperately need without Dwayne Harris available.
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The Raiders owe Grant his full $805,000 base salary, plus a workout bonus and possibly some of the incentives in his contract.
