Raiders deal Switzer to Steelers
Harris, a ’16 Pro Bowl pick, will be primary returner
The Raiders traded receiver Ryan Switzer to the Steelers on Monday in a move that gave them clarity at multiple positions.
Oakland acquired a fifthround pick in next year’s draft in exchange for a sixth-round pick and Switzer, the secondyear receiver whose time in Oakland was short. The Raiders landed Switzer in April by trading 2016 second-round pick Jihad Ward to the Cowboys.
Head coach Jon Gruden touted Switzer this offseason as both a slot receiver and return man. Though the slotreceiver role is fluid, Gruden said Monday that Dwayne Harris will start the season as the Raiders’ primary kick and punt returner.
“I think (Switzer) is a good player. He deserves an opportunity,” Gruden said. “We got a good opportunity to get a good pick for him today.
“Special teams is a big part of the fourth-, fifth-receiver (spot). And that was the case again this year.”
Harris, 30, signed with the Raiders in April after three seasons with the Giants. He set career highs at receiver of 36 catches for 396 yards in 2015. He made the Pro Bowl as a special-teams player in 2016 and, along with his return experience, can play on
punt coverage.
Harris played from 2011 through ’14 in Dallas under now-Raiders special-teams coordinator Rich Bisaccia and ranked second in the NFL in 2013 by averaging 30.6 yards per kickoff return. For his career, Harris has averaged 26.1 yards per kick return and 9.7 yards on punt returns with three touchdowns.
“We can do a lot of things with him,” Gruden said. “He’s tough. He was just hurt last year. That was why you didn’t hear from him. … We want to try to get a couple of core (special-teams) guys that Bisaccia can count on every week, and we’ll start with Harris.”
A foot injury limited Harris to five games in 2017. He made his first appearance this preseason Friday night against the Packers, returning one kickoff for 24 yards and a punt for 8 yards.
As a kick returner, Harris said he admires former Chicago standout Devin Hester’s use of blockers to set up downfield cuts. Returning punts, Harris said: “I’m hoping the guys in front of me block — because 90 percent of the time, I’m probably not going to fair-catch it.”
Harris also said he’ll play receiver “as much as they want me to.” Gruden indicated Harris could be a candidate to play slot receiver. Two slot candidates are gone.
Along with trading Switzer, the Raiders put receiver Griff Whalen on injured reserve with a case of turf toe. Whalen, a Stanford alum, had taken on a large share of first-team reps at slot receiver toward the end of training camp. He caught a touchdown pass from EJ Manuel in the second preseason game in Los Angeles, but left the locker room after the Green Bay game in a walking boot.
Harris caught four touchdown passes in 2015, which Gruden cited in describing Harris as “capable coming in there in the slot. He can go outside. He showed some separation when he did play the other night.”
Despite his lack of game reps this preseason, Harris said he and quarterback Derek Carr have formed “a good connection. If he throws it, I’ll catch it. That’s our philosophy.”
Another slot candidate is Seth Roberts, whom the Raiders appear to be trying to bring up to speed after he missed the first two preseason games. Roberts played a team-high 51 snaps Friday night but was targeted once with no catches.
“I thought he did some good things,” Gruden said. “Some of the balls didn’t go his way, but he was open a few times, did a nice job blocking, did an excellent job running some routes. It was good to see him back out there. We’ll try to get Seth a lot of work in the next couple of days.”
The Raiders’ receiver group is led by Amari Cooper, Jordy Nelson and, ostensibly, Martavis Bryant, whom Gruden said “has progressed some” after a slow start. The Raiders acquired Bryant from the Steelers for a third-round pick in this year’s draft, two days before they got Switzer from Dallas.