The Raiders’ quest to add juice to their pass rush resulted Saturday in the activation of Vic Beasley from the practice squad, making him eligible to play against the New York Jets.
Beasley, 28, was added to the practice squad on Nov. 23. He was released on Nov. 3 by the Tennessee Titans after five games in which he had three tackles, no sacks and one tackle for loss in five games after signing a one-year contract worth $9.5 million.
Raiders coach Jon Gruden hinted Friday Beasley could get a shot, citing a good week of practice and his grasp of Paul Guenther’s defensive system.
At 6-foot-3, 246 pounds, Beasley has played both as a 3-4 linebacker and an undersized defensive end. He has 37 1/2 career sacks, including eight last season along with 12 quarterback hits for the Falcons. It was the second most productive year of Beasley’s career behind a breakout second season in 2016 in which he had 15 1/2 sacks and six forced fumbles on a team that lost in the Super Bowl to the New England Patriots.
Beasley was the eighth overall pick in the 2015 NFL draft out of Clemson.
Things never clicked for Beasley in Tennessee, as he reported late with an unexcused, unexplained absence to the Titans. After reporting 10 days late, the Titans reportedly fined Beasley $500,000, according to the NFL Network. In his last game for the Titans no Nov. 1 against Cincinnati, Beasley played 38 snaps but did not have a tackle, assist or quarterback hit.
Whatever problems Beasley had with the Titans, the Raiders have connections at Clemson, where Beasley starred in college, as well as strength and conditioning coach A.J. Neibel, who worked in that capacity for the Falcons.
The practice squad afforded Beasley a chance to re-start his career and be compatible with how the Raiders want things done.
The Raiders are 31st in the NFL with 12 sacks, with defensive end Maxx Crosby the team leader with six. Crosby, second-year end Clelin Ferrell, Arden Key and Carl Nassib have gotten much of the work as outside rushers. Nassib has 1 1/2 sacks, while Ferrell and Key have yet to record a sack.
In other news, Raiders cornerback Trayvon Mullen, who did not travel with the team to New Jersey because of an illness, arrived Saturday on his own and is listed as questionable to face the Jets.
The Raiders also announced Neibel will not be on the sideline for “COVID-19 related reasons.”
The Raiders also released wide receiver Robert Davis from the practice squad.
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Author: Jerry McDonald