Raiders add another linebacker, calling up Justin Phillips from practice squad

Sunday the Raiders lost three linebackers for parts of their loss to the Vikings, leaving them with a skeleton crew at times in the game. Monday it was clear Maquel Lee’s injury was serious and he was sent to injured reserve and the Raiders signed Dakota Allen from the Rams practice squad.

The other banged up linebackers are Vontaze Burfict and Nicholas Morrow, so the Raiderrs weren’t done. Today they officially activated the only linebacker on their practice squad, calling up Justin Phillips.

To make room for Phillips, the team released wide receiver Ryan Grant.

Phillips is an undrafted rookie out of Oklahoma State. The 6-0, 235-pounder was originally signed by the Dallas Cowboys and was added to the Raiders’ practice squad ahead of Week 1.

Phillips spent five years (2014-18) at Oklahoma State, playing four seasons and appearing in 42 contests, compiling 221 tackles (146 solo), including 23 for loss, 6.5 sacks, three interceptions including two returned for touchdowns, six passes defended, six forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries.

As a senior in 2018 he earned team MVP honors, while also garnering All-Big 12 recognition after posting 98 tackles, the sixth-most in the Big 12 that season.

To replace Phillips’s spot on the practice squad, the Raiders brought in free agent LB Quentin Poling.

Poling was originally a seventh round pick by the Miami Dolphins in the 2018 NFL Draft. He spent the majority of his rookie campaign on the club’s practice squad while appearing in three games.

The 6-1, 235-pounder started 50 games over four seasons at Ohio making 374 tackles (217), 44 for a loss, 18.5 sacks, seven interceptions, 21 passes defended and seven forced fumbles.