justin shorter
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Las Vegas Raiders WR Justin Shorter.
The Las Vegas Raiders‘ wide receiver room needed a jolt, and they’re hoping the addition of a 33-year-old Tyler Lockett will at least help. To make room for Lockett, the team had to cut Justin Shorter.
Luckily for the young wide receiver, he wasn’t in free agency long. The Raiders announced on Tuesday that they’ve signed Shorter to the practice squad.
Raiders PR
#RAIDERS ROSTER MOVE:
– Signed WR Justin Shorter to the practice squad
Shorter has played in all seven games for the Raiders, but hasn’t recorded a reception. He has value on special teams, so perhaps he’ll be able to get back on the field. Even though he’s on the practice squad, it doesn’t mean he can’t get promoted to the active roster.
The former Buffalo Bills fifth-round pick clearly has fans on the Raiders’ coaching staff, so it’ll be interesting to see if he still has a role at some point this season.
Latest on Jakobi Meyers
It’s possible that the Raiders will have an opening at wide receiver soon. The NFL trade deadline is closing in, and Jakobi Meyers still wants a trade.
The Raiders need to decide if they want to offer Meyers an extension or are willing to trade him. It doesn’t make much sense to keep him right now and let him walk in free agency.
There are multiple teams that should have an interest in Meyers. He’s a really good No. 2 wide receiver who has some of the best hands in the NFL. ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler gave the latest update on his status with the Raiders.
“Teams I’ve talked to believe that Meyers has a decent chance to be dealt — possibly the best chance among available wide receivers,” Fowler wrote. “Las Vegas has received interest in the seven-year veteran, and my sense is the Raiders want a strong pick for Meyers. A swap of Day 3 picks won’t do at this stage.
“Several teams are believed to be in the receiver market, most notably the Steelers and possibly the Broncos and Bills. Meyers clearly wants out, and the Raiders are in a transitional phase. They just signed veteran Tyler Lockett, which could ease the loss of dealing Meyers. Pittsburgh is keeping tabs on this one but is prepared to be patient, too. If I had to predict a destination right now, I’d say the Steelers.”
Should Raiders Extend Meyers?
Meyers seems like he’d prefer to get traded away at this point. That said, he could still be open to signing an extension if the Raiders made the right offer.
Meyers is a good player and good in the locker room. Teammates speak very highly of him. The Raiders don’t have a lot of great options at wide receiver, so it would make some sense to extend him.
The problem is that Meyers is already 28 and turns 29 in November. He might not match the Raiders’ timeline. Plus, the hope is that rookie Jack Bech eventually develops into the same type of player as Meyers. If the Raiders think they can make enough moves to make a playoff push next year, it makes sense to extend Meyers, but if they’re taking a more patient approach, then it’s time to trade him.