The Las Vegas Raiders are trimming their roster down to 53 players, and one of the initial cuts is quarterback Nathan Peterman, according to an August 27 post by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero.
Peterman, who was recently signed after being let go by the New Orleans Saints, had started in the Raiders’ third preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers. He had previously spent the last two seasons with the Chicago Bears, where he was coached by the Raiders’ current offensive coordinator, Luke Getsy.
Despite his familiarity with the offense, Peterman’s release suggests he may be a candidate for the practice squad. However, Pelissero notes that recent changes to the Emergency 3rd Quarterback rule reduce the value of veteran quarterbacks on the practice squad, which might affect Peterman’s prospects.
The Raiders might consider adding a different quarterback to the active roster or could opt to stick with Aidan O’Connell and Gardner Minshew for now. Rookie Carter Bradley might be a more logical choice for the practice squad, but Peterman’s knowledge of Getsy’s system could still give him an edge. Although Peterman has been cut, he remains a player to watch.
Other Notable Cuts
Undrafted rookie cornerback Woo Governor impressed during training camp but was waived on August 26, according to Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. The Raiders might attempt to re-sign Governor to the practice squad.
Additionally, the Raiders have released defensive end Ron Stone Jr. and defensive tackles Noah Shannon and Marquan McCall, per USA Today’s Levi Damien. Stone and Shannon are rookies and could potentially return to the practice squad, while McCall, who has more NFL experience, may not be re-signed.
Amari Gainer’s Status
Undrafted free agent linebacker Amari Gainer has emerged as a standout this offseason. Despite limited pre-camp hype, he made a significant impact and drew praise from head coach Antonio Pierce. Following the preseason game against the 49ers, Pierce commended Gainer’s performance and leadership, noting his success in calling the defense.
Gainer appears to have secured a spot on the active roster, as he posted a picture at Allegiant Stadium on August 26 with the caption “Blessed.” This indicates that the Raiders are high on his potential and value his contributions as they finalize their roster.