Obi Melifonwu inactive for Patriots in Super Bowl LIII but two other former Raiders will play

After being placed on injured reserve three times in his first two seasons in Oakland, 2017 second round pick Obi Melifonwu was released by the Raiders with and injury settlement. The UConn alum then landed himself a trip to the Super Bowl and the chance at a ring despite being active just two games during the season and once in the playoffs vs the Chiefs.

Just as he was most of this season and playoffs, Melifonwu will once again be in sweats on the sideline as the Patriots take on the Rams in Super Bowl LIII today. But even not playing in the game, he would still get a Super Bowl ring.

There will be a former Raider on each team that will play in the game, however.

For the Patriots, it’s Pro Bowl return specialist Cordarrelle Patterson. For the Rams it will be running back CJ Anderson.

Patterson was traded to the Patriots before the season so the Raiders can move up from the sixth to the fifth round in the 2019 draft.

Anderson spent a week with the Raiders, but didn’t play for the team. He was signed as an insurance plan in case Doug Martin couldn’t play that week. Martin was good to go, so Anderson was inactive for the one game he spent with the team before being waived. A week later, he signed with the Rams and has been outstanding for them. Raiders fans will be looking for him to have a big game against the hated Patriots.