Raiders place Usama Young, Kaluka Maiava on injured reserve, sign three to roster

Last Friday, Raiders head coach Dennis Allen made it clear that some of the injuries that occurred of late could result in players being shut down for the rest of the season. Two players were officially placed on injured reserve today - Usama Young and Kaluka Maiava.

Both players were reserves for the team. Young shared duties at safety with Brandian Ross with the absence of Tyvon Branch most of the season thus far. His best highlight this season was his game-winning pass defended in the end zone in Houston three weeks ago. He also had a key interception early in the Raiders week 5 win over the Chargers. He suffered a neck injury in the team's loss in Dallas last week and it is serious enough to put him in IR.

Maiava had been struggling a bit with a rib injury but was playing through it. Then he added a calf injury last week and now he is also out. The team activated Miles Burris recently and he is expected take over the reserve linebacker duties Maiava.

In addition the Raiders waived defensive end Brian Sanford.

In corresponding moves, the Raiders added three players from their practice squad to the active roster. Safety Shelton Johnson, cornerback Chance Casey, and linebacker Marshall McFadden.

Johnson will add depth to the safety unit with Young being out and Tyvon Branch not yet ready to return to action. Johnson was a two-year starter at the University of Wisconsin. In 46 career games with the Badgers, he started 23 and totaled 125 tackles (66 solo), four interceptions, one forced fumble and 12 passes defended.

Casey will add depth at cornerback with Taiwan Jones assuming running back duties in the absence of Darren McFadden and Jeremy Stewart. Casey appeared in 43 games (33 starts) over college at Baylor, seeing time at both cornerback and safety. He registered 212 tackles, three interceptions, 18 passes defended, and three forced fumbles.

Marshall McFadden will add depth at linebacker and help on special teams to replace Maiava. McFadden was signed to the Raiders' practice squad Sept. 2, after being waived by the Pittsburgh Steelers at the end of training camp. He spent most of last season on the Steelers' practice squad before being added to their active roster late last season, playing primarily on special teams.

McFadden started 49 games over his collegiate career (2005-10) at South Carolina State, totaling more than 300 tackles, 30 tackles for loss, 10 sacks, three interceptions, four forced fumbles and three fumble recoveries. He was named second team All-MEAC in 2008 and received medical redshirts in 2007 and 2009.

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