Las Vegas Raiders are forced to reshuffle their quarterback room after backup Marcus Mariota suffered a pectoral strain that will see him start the 2020 NFL season on Injured Reserve.
After making the move official, the team decided to bring in DeShone Kizer as insurance, signing the 24-year-old signal-caller to their practice squad. Kizer is expected to challenge the third-string QB Nathan Peterman for backup duties behind starter Derek Carr.
Kizer is familiar with the Raiders’ organization, considering he spent 2019 with the team. He failed to play a single down for the team last season but was active for the last three games.
Landing on IR represents another tough break for Marcus Mariota since he inked a two-year, $17.6 million contract with the Raiders in March. The 26-year-old quarterback first dealt with ankle and shoulder issues during summer and then underperformed when he got to training camp. Reportedly, he particularly struggled with accuracy during recent practices.
Under the new rules, Mariota will be able to return to the 53-men roster in Week 4 if he recovers in time. So far, the team hasn’t given any timetable on his rehab.