Raiders sign defensive tackle Ethan Westbrooks

As they continue to use training camp as a time to tinker on the defensive side of the ball, the Las Vegas Raiders added a familiar face who has the same roots as the organization.

The Raiders announced on Wednesday afternoon that they have signed defensive tackle Ethan Westbrooks, who is from Oakland, California. I He was with the team in training camp in 2019, but didn’t make the 53-man roster. Cornerback Shaun Crawford, who never had much of a chance to make the 53-man roster this year, was cut to make space for the 6’4, 287-pound Westbrooks.

Westbrooks spent some time in the 2020 offseason with the San Francisco 49ers. He hasn’t played in a NFL regular-season game since 2018 when he was with the Los Angeles Rams. The 30-year-old played in 67 NFL games with 11 starts in five seasons with the Rams. He has 79 tackles and nine sacks in his career.

He joins Darius Philon has a player who hasn’t played in three seasons trying to make it as a defensive lineman with the Raiders. The Raiders have a crowded room at defensive tackle, especially after the recent signing of veteran Gerald McCoy.

On the surface, it looks like Westbrooks would be a long shot to make the team, but there is a reason why he was signed, so maybe he has a chance.