Chargers waive LB Kevin Reddick, next stop Oakland?

At the same instant the Raiders announced they had claimed linebacker Ray Ray Armstrong off waivers from the Rams, a more interesting name came available. The Chargers waived linebacker Kevin Reddick.

There are a few reasons the Raiders could be interested in Reddick, and two in particular that make his addition to the team a very real possibility.

First and foremost, even with the addition of Armstrong, the Raiders are still woefully thin at linebacker. Armstrong filled the roster spot left when the team placed Kaluka Maiava on injured reserve. That gives the team four healthy linebackers. Sio Moore is still nursing an injured ankle and Nick Roach has yet to return from a concussion he suffered in the preseason.

The second reason is the Raiders play Reddick's former team this week. The Raiders have added players who had just been released from their next opponent twice already this season. They signed Ras-I-Dowling the practice squad prior to their season opener against the Jets and brought back former starting safety Brandian Ross just prior to their game against the Dolphins in London.

The hope is the newly signed player can impart some knowledge of their former team that can help the Raiders gain an edge in game planning against them.

The Raiders know Reddick fairly well, actually. Reddick played in the Senior Bowl for the North squad which was coached by the Raiders coaching staff. After spending the Senior Bowl week with Reddick, Jason Tarver then worked closely with the linebackers at the scouting combine.

He ultimately went undrafted out of North Carolina despite being initially seen as a mid-round prospect at inside linebacker. He was signed by the New Orleans Saints as undrafted free agent and spent his rookie season as a special teams player. He spent the past two games with the Chargers as a special teamer. He was released when the team re-signed running back, Ronnie Brown.