Few surprises found among Raiders' roster cuts

The Raiders were one of the last NFL teams to announce the moves they made to trim their roster to 53 players by Friday's deadline. When they did, there were few surprises.

Along with cutting 17 players and terminating the contract of punt returner Roscoe Parrish, the Raiders placed three players on injured reserve and, most notably, placed linebacker Aaron Curry on the reserve/physically unable to perform list.

Curry was projected as the Raiders' starting weak-side linebacker when training camp began, but he missed all of camp with sore knees. He now has to sit out the first six weeks of the season before he is eligible to return to practice Oct. 16.

For now, that leaves rookie Miles Burris in line to start when the Raiders open the regular season against San Diego on Sept. 10. The Raiders' cuts leave them with three active outside linebackers – Burris, Philip Wheeler and Carl Ihenacho.

The Raiders cut Chad Kilgore and Kaelin Burnett, and also waived middle linebacker and seventh-round draft pick Nathan Stupar, a day after Stupar had 11 tackles in the preseason finale at Seattle.

Stupar, who would seem a strong practice-squad candidate, was the only one of the Raiders' six draft picks this year not to survive the cut.

Receiver, already thin on experience, was the position group hardest hit Friday, as the Raiders waived Derek Carrier, Brandon Carswell, Eddie McGee and Travionte Session, and terminated Parrish, who was signed earlier this week to boost the Raiders' return game but mishandled two punts against the Seahawks.

McGee appears a casualty of the quick emergence of rookies Rod Streater and Juron Criner, who join Darrius Heyward-Bey, Jacoby Ford and Denarius Moore on the 53-man roster.

The secondary, meanwhile, went nearly untouched. The Raiders kept all seven of their cornerbacks – including Bryan McCann and Koye Francies, who also have roles on special teams – and four safeties while cutting Curtis Taylor and placing Brandon Underwood on injured reserve.

The Raiders also elected to keep nine players on the offensive and defensive lines.

Backup defensive tackle Jamie Cumbie, who missed part of camp because of injury but had a standout performance in the third preseason game, joined rookies Jack Crawford and Christo Bilukidi on the roster. Cut from that unit were Hall Davis and Dominique Hamilton.

Among those cut from the offensive line were Kevin Haslam, Nick Howell, Dan Knapp and Colin Miller. The remaining players waived were running back Lonyae Miller, tight end Kyle Efaw and kicker Eddy Carmona. Tight end Tory Humphrey and punter Marquette King were placed on injured reserve.

The same 53 players, of course, may not make up the roster when the Raiders play the Chargers. Head coach Dennis Allen reiterated Friday that the Raiders will go through players waived by other teams and won't hesitate to make more moves.

"We're evaluating any and all positions to see if there's somebody out there that can help us," Allen said on a conference call held before the roster moves were announced.

The Raiders' backups played the majority of their 21-3 loss to the Seahawks on Thursday night and for the most part did not impress.

Teams may sign players that were waived Friday beginning today at 9 a.m. At that time, they also can start to establish a practice squad of eight players.

• Read more articles by Matt Kawahara

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