The Oakland Raiders announced that they have added cornerback Nevin Lawson to the active roster and waived offensive lineman Lester Cotton Sr.
Lawson signed a one-year contract with the Raiders in the offseason after spending his first five seasons with the Detroit Lions. After not playing much his rookie season, Lawson started nine games in his second year and then 14 or more in each of the last three seasons.
He does not have an interception in his career, but he does have 25 passes defended, a forced fumble and 194 total tackles. In 2018, he defended five passes in addition to recording 53 tackles and his first career sack.
Lawson was expected to make an immediate impact for the Raiders this season, but he wound up being suspended for the first four games of the year for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy.
Cotton went undrafted out of Alabama before signing onto the Raiders’ practice squad at the beginning of the season. He was elevated to the active roster for Oakland’s Week 5 matchup against the Chicago Bears although he did not get into the game.
With starting right guard Gabe Jackson expected back from injury after the bye week, the Raiders no longer had a need for an extra offensive lineman so Cotton’s stay on the roster did not last long.
