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Raiders officially add Garrett Gilbert to practice squad, could be primary backup vs Texans

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Today the Raiders made it official, digging up Garrett Gilbert, who was on the team’s practice squad last season and this year’s offseason roster for a time, and signing him to the team’s practice squad.

Gilbert was a 2014 6th round pick by the Rams out of SMU. He has also spent time with the Patriots and Lions. He’s never appeared in an NFL game.

With Matt McGloin’s shoulder injury in the season finale, the team is preparing this week as if he won’t be able to play. Should that be the case, rookie Connor Cook would get the start and Gilbert would be activated from the practice squad and be active on game day.

The move makes a lot of sense. Gilbert is the only quarterback out there even remotely familiar with the Raiders’ offense.

Two weeks ago, Derek Carr was the Raiders’ starter, Matt McGloin was the primary backup, Connor Cook hadn’t been active for a game all season, and Garrett Gilbert was on his couch playing Madden (I assume).

Now it appears Connor Cook is in line for his first career start with Gilbert as his primary backup heading into the team’s first playoff appearance in 14 years. The Raiders will begin the playoffs this Saturday in Houston against the Texans.