Raiders release veteran defensive end Bruce Irvin
ALAMEDA — “We would like to thank Bruce Irvin for his years of service to the Oakland Raiders and we wish him the best,” general manager Reggie McKenzie said in a statement released by the team.
Irvin played just nine snaps in a 34-3 loss to the 49ers Thursday night. Counted upon to provide an outside pass rush for the Raiders, especially after the trade of Khalil Mack, Irvin has a team-high three sacks but has been largely ineffective on a team with the NFL’s worst pass rush.
The Raiders have only seven sacks all season, one less than they gave up in the loss to the 49ers.
Irvin becomes the third high-profile player to depart since the 53-man roster was finalized on Sept. 2. Mack was dealt to the Chicago Bears in a package that included two first-round draft picks, while wide receiver Amari Cooper was shipped to Dallas for a first-round pick.
The Raiders will get nothing in return for Irvin, however, and in fact could owe him more than $3.7 million over the last eight games of the season — the remaining portion of his scheduled salary of $8 million. Irvin’s salary — the highest on the team for a defensive player — was guaranteed as a vested veteran when
he was on the Week 1 roster. If claimed on waivers, the remainder of Irvin’s salary will be paid by his new team.
Considering the Raiders reportedly attempted to trade Irvin before the NFL trading deadline, it’s unlikely he’d be claimed on waivers. The likely scenario is Irvin clearing waivers and signing with another team as a free agent at a lesser salary.
“Thank you for your part in my journey . . . ,” Irvin posted on his Twitter account. “Specifically thank you to Owner Mark Davis, GM Reggie McKenzie and Coach Jon Gruden and the entire Raiders Organization.
“I will always cherish my experience with the Oakland Raiders. As the seasons change, so do our roles and I look forward to continuing my journey in the NFL!”
Irvin, elected one of the team captains before the season, was scheduled to make $9 million in 2019, a figure that will come off the Raiders’ payroll and salary cap.
An outside linebacker for the first six seasons of his career, Irvin was moved to end in the offseason by coach Jon Gruden and defensive coordinator Paul Guenther with the thinking he’d be exclusively a pass rusher opposite Mack rather than having responsibilities in pass coverage.
Last season, with Mack usually on the opposite the side, Irvin had a eight sacks, which tied his career high, and his goal this season was to reach double figures for the first time.
Perhaps no player was more affected
by Mack’s absence. With opposing lines free of concern about Mack’s influence, Irvin got more attention as the Raiders’ top remaining outside pass rusher. Despite Irvin’s three sacks, he for the most part has been a non-factor on a poor defense and has only six tackles this season.
Asked about Irvin’s decrease in playing time Friday, Gruden said Irvin hasn’t played as much the past two games because the Raiders weren’t playing a lot of nickel defense because of down and distance and that Irvin’s job was to rush the passer.
“We weren’t in our nickel defense very much,” Gruden said. “Remember we’re a 4-3 team, we’re not a 3-4. So in the base defense, sometimes he doesn’t fit the role we need done. No disrespect to Bruce. He’s an edge rusher. We haven’t had a lead. We haven’t had the opposition behind in the chains a lot. So his role has been reduced.
“I know he’s frustrated. I’m frustrated. We’ll try to solve that as soon as possible. He’s good player.”
According to analytics sites, the Raiders were in a nickel defense 23 times, meaning 14 times in pass rush situations Irvin was off the field.
Through the first six games of the season, Irvin had a low of 26 snaps in Week 3 against Miami with a high of 49 in Week 2. His playing time dropped off in Week 8 against Indianapolis with 24 snaps and he had only nine snaps against the 49ers.
Irvin, 31, is the second veteran departure in two weeks, following the retirement of cornerback Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie. The Raiders also released free agent linebacker Derrick Johnson, another defensive cocaptain, on Oct. 16.