Raiders cut 4 receivers; Seth Roberts survives
Seth Roberts’ rise from the practice squad gained momentum on Tuesday as the Raiders cut four receivers, including former Patriot Kenbrell Thompkins.
Thompkins, who had 15 catches for Oakland last season, had been lining up on most of the first-team three-receiver sets in training camp.
[...] he didn’t make any plays in the first three preseason games and was let go, along with Josh Harper, Milton Williams III and return specialist Trindon Holliday.
Roberts, who caught 40 passes for 857 yards in his senior season at West Alabama in 2013, has eight catches for a team-high 133 yards this preseason.
There seems to be an opening for a slot receiver now, and quarterback Derek Carr likes the options.
Six-foot-five free-agent signee Kris Durham, who had a touchdown last week, and kick returner Devon Wylie also survived the cutdown from 90 to 75 players.
The former No. 3 overall pick leaves with a $600,000 parting gift, the guaranteed money the Raiders gave him when he signed a two-year deal in March.
Outside linebacker Sio Moore doesn’t seem to be in the new coaching staff’s plans.
The first team really struggled in the loss to the Cardinals on Sunday, but Del Rio said that wouldn’t make him lean toward playing Carr and the starters more in Seattle in the preseason finale.