The Las Vegas Raiders have high hopes for a rookie they signed as an undrafted free agent this spring. Linebacker Amari Gainer impressed the coaching staff during the offseason and training camp.
Gainer’s performance against the San Francisco 49ers last week would have made it hard for the coaching staff to cut him this week. On Tuesday, the Raiders released the names of players who were waived or released after training camp.
Gainer was not one of them.
Amari Gainer had faith
Per the Raiders website, Gainer said he didn’t have fear about making the Raiders as an undrafted player.
“With faith, there’s no fear, so that was the main thing for me,” Gainer said. “Stay where my feet were and keep working, keep grinding and everything else would shake out.”
The Las Vegas Raiders have big plans for Gainer
The Raiders didn’t keep Gainer on the 53-man roster for depth purposes at linebacker. The team intends to use him this season on special teams. Head coach Antonio Pierce said he believes Gainer can become a “core” member of the team.
“I thought he did an excellent job,” Pierce said. “He’s put himself in position not just at linebacker, but on special teams, to be one of the core guys for us. There’s still some development there at the linebacker position that will take place over the course of the season, but he gives us a lot of flexibility because of what he’s able to do both on the line of scrimmage, off the ball linebacker and special teams.”
The Raiders didn’t have a formal meeting with Gainer to let him know he made the team. He found out on social media. Gainer said he’s excited about his opportunities with the Raiders this fall.
Gainer wants to win this season
“It was cool to find out I’ll have a chance to help this team succeed and help this team win,” Gainer said. “I’m excited to get out here and play some football.”
Gainer will get his first opportunity to play in a regular season game on Sept. 8 when the Raiders play the Los Angeles Chargers. That contest will be harder than anything he saw in the preseason. If Gainer plays well, Pierce could make him a core guy quickly this season.
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