Las Vegas Raiders make a flurry of roster moves to the same position group, including one the entire fan base has been waiting for
The Las Vegas Raiders are coming off a big win over the New Orleans Saints, and another big game from Cody White.
The Las Vegas Raiders have made several wide receiver moves, promoting practice squad standout Cody White to the active roster while placing wide receiver Jack Bech on injured reserve with a fractured forearm. The moves highlight both the depth general manager John Spytek has built and the real cost of losing Bech for an extended stretch.
White’s promotion is a move Raiders fans have been waiting on for weeks. He leads the team in touchdown receptions with three, and the wild part is he’s done it on just three catches for 28 yards. Every single reception has gone for a score.
White earned it by being elevated off the practice squad two weeks in a row, first against the Los Angeles Chargers when he scored two touchdowns, and then against the New Orleans Saints last week when he added another. He played his tail off, and the Raiders rewarded him with a roster spot.
This is a great sign for Vegas because it shows Spytek knows what he’s doing when building a roster. It also shows that the players’ offensive coordinator, Klint Kubiak, is recommending legitimate football players. White was with Kubiak in Seattle last year, and that connection has clearly paid off. Getting production like that from a practice squad elevation is exactly how good organizations operate.
Losing Jack Bech is going to hurt
The Bech news is the tough part. He’s headed to injured reserve, which means he can’t return for at least four weeks. With a fractured forearm, the timeline could stretch even longer. No firm return date is set yet.
He hasn’t put up eye-popping stats, and that’s led to frustration. That said, his lack of production is mostly down to circumstances. Bech is still a really integral part of this offense. He’s a great run blocker. Bech is also effective at getting open in short and intermediate areas. He’s a reliable pass-catcher when the ball comes his way. Losing that is a significant blow.
Las Vegas also signed wide receiver Philip Dorsett to the practice squad. Dorsett is a familiar face who has been with the Raiders’ practice squad the last few years and competed for a 53-man roster spot during training camp this offseason. He didn’t make it, but this is a veteran with eight years of NFL experience, 94 career games, over 2,000 career receiving yards, and 12 touchdowns. With injuries piling up, bringing back a player with that kind of experience makes sense.
The corresponding move was waiving wide receiver Justin Shorter. Shorter was a fan favorite on the practice squad, and plenty of people liked what he did in the preseason. He flashed with some nice plays and catches over the last few years. Replacing him with Dorsett prioritizes experience and a proven skill set when the team needs immediate help at the position. Spytek continues to handle these roster decisions well. Even in response to injuries, the Raiders are adding receivers they believe have the experience and ability to contribute when the team needs it most. That kind of roster management is what separates good front offices from the rest of the league.
