Meaningless game? Not to these two
Raiders could be toast, but Silberman & Sheldon pumped for possible debuts
ALAMEDA >> No sense grousing about playing out the string in the presence of Ian Silberman or Brady Sheldon.
The Raiders could be eliminated from the playoffs by the time they kick off Christmas night on the road against the Philadelphia Eagles, and the reality of the situation has muted lockerroom enthusiasm.
But for Silberman and Sheldon, there is much rejoicing, as they were added to the 53-man roster Friday and could see action Monday night.
The transactions were first reported by NFL Media.
Silberman, who had an impressive training camp in which he learned to play center, was signed off the practice squad of the Cleveland Browns. Sheldon, like Silberman a victim of the final roster reduction on Sept. 2, has been on the Raiders practice squad as a linebacker since Sept. 2.
To make room on the roster, the Raiders placed left tackle Donald Penn (foot surgery) and guard/ center Jon Feliciano (concussion)
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on injured reserve.
Silberman had never played center before the week leading up to the preseason opener against Arizona. With Feliciano out with a knee injury and Rodney Hudson sitting as an established veteran, Silberman not only played, but went wire to wire.
He was one of the most difficult of the final cuts, was signed by the Indianapolis Colts off waivers, then later cut and put on the Colts practice squad. He was waived and ended up with Cleveland.
“It’s exciting for me because I wanted to be here from the get-go,” Silberman said. “But things happen how they happen.”
Hudson still hasn’t practiced since playing against Dallas with a kidney stone, and John Stone, a center, was promoted from the practice squad. Silberman could start at center if needed or play the Feliciano role, in which he backs up all three interior positions.
Initially, the Raiders had him working at center.
“Ian is an energetic guy, fun to be around,” Raiders offensive coordinator Todd Downing said. “He’s certainly smart; picked up right where he left off. He knows our system, so we’re glad to have him back.”
Silberman credits line coach Mike Tice, Hudson and Feliciano for teaching him to play center and revitalizing his career.
Sheldon, 6-foot-5, 230 pounds, is an undrafted rookie out of Division II Ferris State.
After being released, Sheldon went back to work as a Directv sales rep, a job he’s held for the last three years, and updated his resume and Linkedin account.
It took nearly 10 weeks for the Raiders to bring him back to the practice squad, during which time he said he rose at 6:30 a.m. workouts before going to work.
“I’m really excited. It’s a dream come true, just to be out there, and get the opportunity in a regular-season game,” Sheldon said. “I knew with injuries and people going down maybe I’d get my shot.”
Although he has been on the practice field, starting outside linebacker Bruce Irvin remains in concussion protocol and has not been cleared to play.
Sheldon said he has soaked up as much knowledge as he could from NaVorro Bowman, Irvin and Khalil Mack and believes coaches have seen his progress over the past five weeks.
“I’ve been flying around, and I think they noticed,” Sheldon said.
• Wide receiver Amari Cooper was limited in practice, the first time he’s participated since re-injuring his ankle while blocking against Kansas City.
“Still working through it,” Cooper said.
Cooper was originally injured Nov. 26 — on a play on which he hurt the ankle and received a concussion from a blow by Denver’s Darian Stewart. Stewart was flagged for unnecessary roughness and fined $24,308 by the NFL, but Cooper had no issues with the hit.
“I felt like it was a fair hit, but I guess he got flagged, so I don’t know,” Cooper said. “Rules change.”
• Running back Marshawn Lynch was fined $24,309 for his verbal exchange with an official after Derek Carr’s fumble went out of the end zone against Dallas, costing the Raiders a chance at the win.
Combined with the $79,412 in salary and $31,250 in per-game bonus money Lynch lost for leaving the bench to intercede in an altercation with the Chiefs earlier this season, the running back has lost $134,971 in fines.
Lynch did not practice Friday, which has been customary in recent weeks for Thursday practices during a normal week. With a game Monday night, the Friday practice was in essence the Thursday practice in terms of routine.
• Defensive lineman Mario Edwards Jr. (ankle), defensive end Denico Autry (hand-ankle), tight end Jared Cook (wrist), safety Keith McGill (knee-illness) and wide receiver Cordarrelle Patterson (hip) also were limited in practice.