14 August 2023 , 17:26
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The Las Vegas Raiders brutally released one of their players in the middle of a game.
The NFL franchise played its first pre-season game against the San Francisco 49ers at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday. As the teams did battle, it was announced that defensive tackle Kyle Peko would play no part in the game or their future encounters as he parted ways with the team.
One fan, in particular, was left stunned by the news as they tweeted: "Getting cut mid-game is outrageous." This brings the 30-year-old’s rollercoaster stint with the AFC West to an end, and this is not the first time the franchise has released him.
Peko signed with the Raiders in March 2022 but was released just five months later. He was re-signed to the practice squad in September 2022 but was released again later that month before being resigned in October.
On December 6, 2022, Peko signed for the Raiders' active roster once again and had 11 tackles in eight games last season. He has also represented the Tennessee Titans, Buffalo Bills, and Denver Broncos and has registered 34 tackles over the course of his career, along with two sacks, and one forced fumble.
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With Peko no longer on the team, they have an open spot on their roster, in addition to wide receiver DJ Turner and linebacker Darius Harris being placed on the injured reserve list. The shocking news did not hinder the Raiders’ performance as they dispatched the 49ers 34-7.
The 49ers went scoreless in three of the four quarters as all seven of their points came in the second quarter. Rookie quarterback Aidan O'Connell impressed on debut as he completed 15 of 18 passes for 141 yards and a touchdown.
Fans were surprised by the timing of the Peko release announcement (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)The 24-year-old is currently third on the depth chart behind starter Jimmy Garoppolo and veteran Brian Hoyer, but he has certainly given them something to think about as they prepare for the new season. “I thought he generally handled himself well for the first (playing) opportunity,” Raiders coach Josh McDaniels said.
“He’s going to learn a lot from some of the things we might have been able to do a little bit better that would’ve helped us maybe sustain a few drives. He soaks it all in, and he’ll take every opportunity to improve.”
Raiders wide receiver Keelan Cole added: “Since Day 1, Aidan has been ready to go. So I’m not surprised at all about the performance.” The Raiders will play the second of their three pre-season matches against the LA Rams in the early hours of Saturday morning at SoFi Stadium, before concluding their pre-season at the AT&T Stadium against the Dallas Cowboys on August 27.