Raiders promote Ateman, Cotton as insurance because of injuries
Faced with injury issues at wide receiver and guard, the Raiders promoted wide receiver Marcell Ateman and guard Lester Cotton Jr. from the practice squad Saturday.
Ateman, a seventh-round draft pick last season out of Oklahoma State, caught 15 passes for 154 yards and a touchdown last season after getting the call from the practice squad. Cotton is an undrafted rookie out of Alabama who didn’t make the 53-man roster at what was at the time a deep position but was signed to the practice squad.
Going in to Sunday’s game at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London against the Chicago Bears, three Raiders wide recievers are listed as questionable — Tyrell Williams, J.J. Nelson and Dwayne Harris. Williams, the Raiders leading wide receiver with 17 receptions for 216 yards and four touchdowns, did not practice all week with a foot injury. Nelson has battled leg and ankle injuries since the regular season started and has played extensively in only one game.
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Harris, who missed the last two games with an ankle injury, also plays receiver but his primary role is as a return specialist and playing as a gunner on punt and kickoff coverage teams.
Ateman (6-foot-4, 216) caught eight passes for 101 yards with a long gain of 22 during the exhibition season. He is a big target roughly the size of Williams who can win in jump-and-catch situations but without the deep speed of Williams.
The Raiders lost Jordan Devey to a torn pectoral muscle against Indianapolis, an injury coach Jon Gruden said was season ending. Left guard Richie Incognito is listed as questionable with a back injury. Incognito practiced Thursday but not Friday. Right guard Gabe Jackson (knee) isn’t ready to face Chicago but is expected to return following the bye week and be available to face Green Bay on Oct. 20.
Cotton (6-foot-4, 335 pounds) played extensively in the exhibition season,., He played four years at Alabama, starting 10 games at left guard and 18 at right guard. If Incognito were unavailable, the only guards on the roster are Denzelle Good and Andre James, an undrafted rookie out of UCLA who was a college tackle but has played inside at center and guard for the Raiders.
The Raiders roster spots were available after placing Devey on injured reserve, with Vontaze Burfict on the suspended list as he awaits appeal for a 12-game ban for a helmet-to-helmet hit against the Indianapolis Colts
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