Raiders claim QB DeShone Kizer

ALAMEDA, Calif. — Then there were four.

The Raiders claimed quarterback DeShone Kizer off waivers Sunday after he was released by the Packers a day earlier, temporarily giving them four signal-callers on the roster.

Veteran defensive end Josh Mauro, a projected starter who signed a free agent deal with the team in March, was released to make space for Kizer, though it could be a procedural move with Mauro possibly rejoining the team.

Backup quarterbacks Mike Glennon and Nathan Peterman remain on the roster, along with starter Derek Carr.

Kizer, a two-year pro out of Notre Dame, appeared in three games for Green Bay last season and started 15 for the Browns as a rookie in 2017.

He has completed 53.1 percent of his passes with 11 touchdowns and 24 interceptions in his career, but has had more success on the ground.

Kizer ran for 419 yards and five touchdowns in his rookie campaign for Cleveland, becoming just the fourth rookie quarterback in NFL history to run for at least 400 yards and five scores.

The Raiders got a close look at him in a preseason game in Winnipeg when he completed 4 of 7 passes and threw an interception.

Mauro was listed as the starter at left defensive end throughout training camp and remained there on the team’s depth chart until Sunday afternoon when his name was deleted.

The 28-year-old out of Stanford had three sacks and 11 quarterback hits in starting 30 of 59 career games with the Cardinals, Steelers and Giants over the last five seasons.

There was debate throughout training camp about whether the Raiders would carry two quarterbacks or three. For now, they have four.

While that’s not expected to be the case for any significant length of time, it’s a crowded room at the moment.

The Raiders currently have the same number of quarterbacks as linebackers on the 53-man roster.

They have also begun assembling their 10-man practice squad, though breakout star receiver Keelan Doss won’t be a part of it.

The Alameda native and former UC Davis elected to sign with Jacksonville’s practice squad rather than returning to the Raiders. He cleared waivers on Saturday following his release from his hometown team.

Defensive tackle Anthony Rush did choose to return to the Raiders as a member of the practice squad.

The massive undrafted rookie was a preseason standout on the defensive line.

Wide receiver Marcell Ateman, a seventh-round pick last season who had 15 catches for 154 yards and a touchdown as a rookie, was also added to the practice squad.

Tight end Eric Saubert, offensive lineman Lester Cotton Sr., rookie running back Damarea Crockett, defensive end Quinton Bell, wide receiver Rico Gafford and cornerback Dylan Mabin have also joined the practice squad, according to reports.

Saubert spent two seasons with the Falcons before he was traded to the Patriots last month, but didn’t make the team.

Cotton, Bell and Maybin were undrafted free agent signings of the Raiders who were among the cuts this weekend.

Gafford spent the majority of the 2018 season on the Raiders practice squad before going through the 2019 offseason and training camp with the club. He was also cut over the weekend.

Crockett was undrafted out of Missouri and released by the Texans on Saturday.

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Contact Adam Hill at ahill@reviewjournal.com. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on Twitter.