It didn’t take long for the Las Vegas Raiders to have some drama this season. Despite starting and playing well in the first four games, linebacker Germaine Pratt didn’t travel with the team for their Week 5 game against the Indianapolis Colts.
Head coach Pete Carroll hasn’t given any specifics as to why Pratt stayed home, but the Raiders officially released him on Tuesday. Well, it didn’t take long for him to find a new home.
The Colts announced that they’ve signed Pratt to the team following the news that linebacker Joe Bachie is headed to the Injured Reserve. It is notable that Pratt would join the team that just blew out the Raiders 40-6.
However, the moe likely has nothing to do with Las Vegas. Pratt is reuniting with defensive coordinator Lou Anarumo, who coached Pratt in Cincinnati for years. He now gets to play in a defense he knows well with a coach that he trusts.
Plus, the Colts are 4-1 and look like contenders in the AFC, while the Raiders are in the running for the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Indianapolis is quickly becoming an intriguing destination for veterans hoping to win.
Maxx Crosby Clearly Frustrated
This was supposed to be the year the Raiders finally started heading in the right direction. Caroll was expected to be an upgrade at head coach, and nobody argued against the notion that Geno Smith would be an upgrade at quarterback.
However, at 1-4, the Raiders are even worse than they were last year. Defensive end Maxx Crosby has been a loyal soldier, but he also wants to win. He was at a loss for words after the Colts’ loss.
“Really can’t put it into words to be honest,” Crosby said after Sunday’s loss. “Just not good in any way. It’s not good football. We’re not playing good football right now. So we gotta be better. I don’t think that’s a reflection of who we are, but the score is the score and we played like (expletive). And that’s all that can really be said. So yeah, we have to find ways to get better.
“For me, it doesn’t change. Regardless of the circumstances, I gotta show up and I gotta be a leader, and I gotta be the best version of myself. This week was, I was a little banged up from the last game. Unfortunately, I got a little sick during the week, early in the week as well. So it was a tough week, but at the end of the day, there’s no excuses. I still had to show up and still gotta be there for my guys. So we gotta reset and we gotta focus on getting another win.”
Raiders Can’t Lose in Week 6
It’s a long shot the Raiders can even get back into the playoff race, but they have to at least start showing signs of improvement. The team hosts a 1-4 Tennessee Titans team in Week 6, which was the worst team in the NFL last season.
If the Raiders can’t beat the Titans, there’s an argument that they are the worst team in the NFL. That can’t be good for morale, and it’s easy to see things getting worse.
Like Heavy Sports’s content? Be sure to follow us.
This article was originally published on Heavy Sports
The post Ex-Raiders Starter Signs With AFC Contender One Day After Release appeared first on Heavy Sports.