Raiders Activate Rod Smith, Cut Ken Crawley

The Las Vegas Raiders announced that running back Rod Smith would be activated from the reserve/COVID-19 list, and most likely in a corresponding move defensive back Ken Crawley would be waived.

Smith had been on the list since August 6, when it was announced that he and defensive end Maxx Crosby would both be put on the Covid-19 list.

Crosby rejoined the Raiders recently, so with Smith back; they now have no other players currently on the COVID-19 list. Running back Devontae Booker also was placed on the list earlier in the summer before rejoining the team.

Smith will be able to continue battling alongside Booker and other running backs for backup minutes behind starter Josh Jacobs. The Raiders have seven running backs on their roster, including those three, so the competition will likely prove to be intense as training camp goes along.

For Crawley, though, he will have to hope that another team will come calling. An undrafted free agent out of Colorado, Crawley previously was with the New Orleans Saints and Miami Dolphins.

Crawley was a starter for 13 games with New Orleans in 2017, but appeared in a total of only 15 games in 2018 and 2019.

The Raiders heavily invested in remaking their defensive backfield this offseason, signing veteran corner Prince Amukamara and drafting corners Damon Arnette and Amik Robertson in this year’s draft.

With seven other cornerbacks in camp, plus five safeties, it likely came down to a numbers game with Crawley. The competition in the secondary might be the most important one to watch in the Raiders camp this year.

For a previous starter like Crawley not to be kept on, that says a lot for the level of play the Raiders are looking for from their cornerbacks this season.

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