Raiders waive 2018 preseason star Chris Warren III, bring back RB James Butler

With the way Chris Warren III blew threw defenders in last year’s camp and preseason, Raiders fans had high hopes for the undrafted former Texas star running back. Those hopes may have ended on the second day of 2019 camp with the big back getting waived.

The second generation back led the entire NFL in rushing last preseason, leading the Raiders to stash him on IR last season in the hopes that he could make a push for a roster spot this season. He wasn’t given that chance again.

Warren’s weight became a concern this offseason. The back listed at an already hefty 250 pounds was said to have ballooned to over 270 pounds. On top of his weight gain, Jon Gruden had made it clear Warren’s chances of making the team hinged on his ability to pass protect and catch the ball out of the backfield.

On day one, he had a drop on a pass in the flat. If he wasn’t picking up the playbook either — a big part of being a good pass protector — it didn’t matter how many linebackers he could pummel.

To replace Warren, the team brought back running back James Butler who was on the practice squad last season and was on the offseason roster for a time.