Raiders' Masterson Could Return to More Impactful Role

With Las Vegas Raiders linebacker Divine Deablo's status for Week 8 uncertain at this time because of injury, second-year linebacker Luke Masterson could be called upon.

Las Vegas Raiders second-year linebacker Luke Masterson was one of the biggest surprises of the team's rookie class last season.

An undrafted free agent out of Wake Forest, Masterson earned a starting role in the second half of the 2022 season and ran with it.

The young linebacker finished his rookie campaign with 59 combined tackles (30 solos), four for losses and a quarterback hit. He made seven starts in 17 games.

The Las Vegas Raiders Luke Masterson is an emerging star for the Silver and Black / © Jamie Sabau | 2023 Oct 22

Masterson's role has been somewhat diminished this season, but with Raiders linebacker Divine Deablo's health status for Las Vegas' Week 8 game against the Detroit Lions on Monday yet to be determined, it could very well be Masterson whose number is called to fill the void.

Masterson replaced Deablo in Week 7 against the Chicago Bears when the third-year Raider left the game due to an ankle injury.

“Luke, from the beginning when we met him last year, he's been working on his craft a ton, whether in the classroom or out there on the field," Raiders Defensive Coordinator Patrick Graham said when he addressed the media on Tuesday. "He's always ready. The role that he has been on special teams. 

"And we're just pleased with the way he works and how he tries to improve and then tries to make corrections to any mistakes that he makes. And he just does a good job of getting better each week and not being a repeat error guy. That's always a key thing.”

Masterson finished Sunday's game against Chicago with five combined tackles and allowed two completions out of the four times he was targeted as a defender.

The 25-year-old linebacker has yet to start a game this season. Through the seven games he has appeared in, Masterson has recorded 10 combined tackles and a pass defensed. He has taken the field for 142 special teams snaps and 86 defensive snaps.

The Raiders signed Masterson in May of 2022.

The Silver and Black will stay on the road to take on the Detroit Lions on Monday night, Oct. 30, at 8:15 p.m. EDT/5:15 p.m. PDT.

Please tell us your thoughts when you like our Facebook Page WHEN YOU CLICK RIGHT HERE.