–Going into their third game with only two total sacks, the Raiders continue to juggle personnel, seeking some solution to scare opposing quarterbacks.
After Sunday’s loss at Denver included only one sack, head coach Jon Gruden said, “We have to do something,” and on Monday added, “We got to make improvements there. Across the board we got to make improvements. It was pretty obvious.”
So this week the Raiders rattled their roster looking for those improvements. On Tuesday the team promoted defensive end Shilique Calhoun, a 2016 third-round pick, from the practice squad.
He was waived last week when the Raiders signed defensive tackles Clinton McDonald and Johnathan Hankins and placed defensive tackle Justin Ellis on injured reserve. When no team claimed him, Calhoun was re-signed to the practice squad.
McDonald and Hankins played immediately in the 20-19 loss to Denver, but the Raiders could get defensive pressure from the outside. The team hopes Calhoun will help there and coaches feel strongly about his talents on special team.
To make room for Calhoun, the Raiders waived Brian Price, whom they claimed off waivers from the Cowboys and released Brian Price.
Price was inactive for the first game and played 17 snaps in Denver.
–Head coach Jon Gruden on rookie left tackle Colton Miller, the 6-8, 309- pounder out of UCLA who held up fairly well against Denver pass-rushing dynamo Von Miller (three tackles, one sack: “Yeah, we think he’s a long-term, big-time player for us at a critical position. That’s why we drafted him. His range, not only as a pass protector but you saw him get out on the quick screens. He’s got tremendous athleticism and he’s just getting started. It’s exciting.”
