The NFL’s cutdown day has come and gone, meaning the Las Vegas Raiders have their initial 53-man roster set. One player who isn’t on it is rookie third-round pick Keyron Crawford.
Crawford was placed on injured reserve after suffering an ankle injury in the Raiders’ final preseason game against the San Francisco 49ers this past Thursday night. The defensive end had to be carted off the field, and while the full extent of his injury is still unknown, the fact that Las Vegas didn’t use one of its two
return designations on the Auburn product means it’s significant. The Raiders did designate tight end Carter Runyon to return from IR after Runyon missed the majority of training camp with an undisclosed injury.
Crawford likely wasn’t going to get much playing time behind Maxx Crosby, Kwity Paye and Malcolm Koonce in year one, anyway. Of course, practice reps are valuable for a young player’s development down the line, but the rookie being out will have a minimal impact on this year’s defense.
Meanwhile, Crawford’s injury likely was the final boost Patrick Johnson needed to make the team. The 28-year-old was arguably the Silver and Black’s best top performer during the preseason, collecting 11 tackles, two sacks and four TFLs over the three games. Baring another move/waiver wire pickup on Monday, the Silver and Black will roll into the 2026 season with Crosby, Paye, Koonce and Crawford at edge defender.
In Other Raiders’ Links:
- Cut tracker: A recap of all the cuts the Raiders made on Sunday.
- Jordan Meredith traded: “According to NFL Media, the Raiders have traded backup center/guard Jordan Meredith to the New York Jets,” S&BP’s Bill Williamson wrote. “The Raiders are sending a 2029 seventh-round pick to New York with Meredith for a 2027 sixth-round pick.”
- Laki Tasi waived by Titans: The former fan favorite and IPP/rugby player didn’t make Tennessee’s 53-man roster on cutdown day, via WSMV 4.
- Raiders swiped Tyler Linderbaum from Commanders: “I was told by somebody I do trust that they had an agreement, supposedly like a handshake agreement with Linderbaum,” ESPN Radio’s Lake Lewis Jr. on the Rambling with Rio Podcast. “I just think that when the Raiders came in and made you the highest-paid center in history, you can’t turn that money down.”
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