Aside from coming off their second straight blowout loss, the Oakland Raiders are now dealing with a thin linebacker corps heading into Week 4 of the 2019 NFL season.
The Raiders endured their fair share of struggles in the 34-14 loss against the Vikings. Unfortunately, the most notable was the slew of linebackers that were forced to exit the game with injuries in Vontaze Burfict, Marquel Lee, and Nicholas Morrow.
Although Burfict was able to later return to the game, it remains to be seen if he will be able to practice while dealing with an elbow injury. Meanwhile, both Lee and Morrow appear to be nursing ankle injuries.
With a tough matchup against the Indianapolis Colts ahead, it appears the Raiders have made an addition to aid their linebacking corps. According to Lindsey Thiry of ESPN, they have signed Dakota Allen off of the Los Angeles Rams’ practice squad:
The Raiders have signed LB Dakota Allen off the Rams practice squad, sources tell me and @PGutierrezESPN.
— Lindsey Thiry (@LindseyThiry) September 24, 2019
Raiders head coach Jon Gruden stated after Monday’s practice that he was planning to bring in a linebacker, so the move does not come as much of a surprise, via Jimmy Durkin of The Athletic:
Gruden said the Raiders will be bringing in some linebackers. Burfict has an elbow injury, Lee and Morrow have ankle injuries.
— Jimmy Durkin (@Jimmy_Durkin) September 23, 2019
Allen was a seventh-round draft pick of the Rams in 2019 out of Texas Tech. He was a star of the Netflix’s ‘Last Chance U,’ so he will be the second player the Raiders have brought in this season that was only the show. Defensive tackle Ronald Ollie spent a short time with the team during training camp but was among the first cuts.
The decision to bring in another other option is certainly understandable given the current situation. Aside from Burfict, Lee, and Morrow, the only other healthy linebackers on the roster are Tahir Whitehead and Kyle Wilber.
Whitehead was the only starter in this group that managed to make through the game without an injury after logging in a total of 59 snaps. It is safe to say that the raiders will be relying on the veteran to serve as a stabilizing factor in this temporary, makeshift unit before the others are able to make their return.
Wilber has largely served as a special teams player throughout his career and has served as a reserve linebacker in Oakland since signing a two-year deal last offseason. While the recent rash of injuries has opened things up for him to see the field, it is clear that the team will be exploring all options heading into Week 4.
Allen has spent the whole season on the Rams’ practice squad, so whenever he appears in a game for the Raiders, it will be his NFL debut.
