Wednesday, the Raiders hit the practice field to begin game week preparations to face the Buffalo Bills on Sunday. Taking the field with them for the first time in months was TE Carter Runyon.
Runyon had been on injured reserve and his return to practice opens the 21-day window for him to be activated to the roster.
The mere fact that the Raiders had him designated for return should signal that they really like what they see from him and believe he can be a solid contributor to the team moving forward. The alternative being to waive him with an injury settlement and hope he could return to the team after he was healthy again.
An undrafted free agent out of Towson in 2025, Runyon was impressive immediately, showing a nice combination of burst and
hands as well as strong special teams work. He then showed it in the preseason, putting up six catches for 74 yards and beat out several other tight ends in camp last year to make the team's practice squad. And a few weeks in to the season, he was signed to the active roster.
Runyon would appear in 13 games with 45 snaps on offense and 205 snaps on special teams and totaled two special teams tackles and one catch for three yards.
One of the few returning coaches for the Raiders to join the new staff was tight ends coach Luke Steckel, who, even though Runyon missed all of training camp, likely gave his endorsement of Runyon as a player they should keep around.
This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: Raiders get promising young tight end back at practice from injury
