Tag: mariota

Jun 14, 2022; Flowery Branch, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterbacks Desmond Ridder (4) and Marcus Mariota (1) pass on the field during Minicamp at the Falcons Training Complex. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Falcons QB Marcus Mariota (knee) likely headed to IR

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Quarterback Marcus Mariota is expected to be placed on injured reserve with a knee injury, Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith said Monday.

The move comes after what Smith said was a “performance based decision” to make Mariota the backup and start rookie Desmond Ridder.

“I have a lot of confidence in Des,” Smith said Monday as the Falcons returned from their bye week.

The Falcons (5-8) play the New Orleans Saints (4-9) this week. Ridder played well in the preseason and the third-round pick could nail down the position with a strong finish to the 2022 regular season.

“Obviously where our circumstances are, we talked last time about trying to get over the hump in some of these close games and where we try to push the offense,” Smith said. “We feel like that this is the best decision where he’s at, where the team’s at, as we prepare to go down to New Orleans.”

Mariota was not at the team facility on Monday but undergoing medical testing on his injured knee.

A move to injured reserve would effectively end the season for Mariota with four regular-season games to play, unless the Falcons win the NFC South division to reach the playoffs.

The Falcons signed former Tennessee Titans practice squad quarterback Logan Woodside to the active 53-man roster. Woodside will be active and serve as the No. 2 quarterback on Sunday.

Atlanta is 1-4 in the past five games, but Smith said it was time to turn to Ridder because of his progress over the past month. Smith did not want to make a switch if it meant paring down the offense.

“If I thought we had to restrict him, that wouldn’t be fair to this team,” Smith said.

Mariota is in the first year of a two-year, $18.75 million deal he signed in March as the Falcons moved on from Matt Ryan. He is owed a $3 million roster bonus in March that could invite the Falcons to release him before taking on his $9 million base salary for 2023.

The No. 2 pick in the 2015 NFL Draft, Mariota spent five seasons with the Titans and played for the Las Vegas Raiders in 2021.

–Field Level Media

Oct 9, 2022; Tampa, Florida, USA; Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers during the second half at Raymond James Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Arthur Smith: ‘Every position’ to be evaluated entering Falcons’ bye

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Following a 19-16 loss to Pittsburgh, Atlanta Falcons coach Arthur Smith made it known that all positions, including quarterback, would be evaluated entering the team’s bye week.

Just a few weeks ago, Smith said “nothing’s changed” when asked if he’d consider a switch from Marcus Mariota to rookie Desmond Ridder behind center.

During Monday’s press conference, Smith said “we are still working through that” when asked about the quarterback situation. He also reiterated that Atlanta (5-8) will evaluate every position following its fourth loss in its last five games.

“It’s at every position … whether you’re making a call at left guard or anywhere else on the field,” Smith said. “What you don’t want to do is have a knee-jerk reaction, which I don’t think after 13 games you are.

“What we try to do every Monday is be objective and tell the truth in the meetings. And there’s a way to do that without taking shots at anybody’s dignity or whatever. We’ll never do that. It’s called coaching and being objective and correcting things. And it starts with myself. You’ve got to hold yourself accountable first.”

Mariota garnered criticism after he missed a number of wide-open receivers in the loss to the Steelers. His interception on the Falcons’ final drive sealed the victory for Pittsburgh (5-7).

Ridder, the 74th overall pick in the draft, has yet to be given a shot behind center. But the talented dual-threat could be given a look in order to give the Falcons’ struggling offense a shot of momentum down the stretch.

“We will have some very intense meetings in the next couple of days,” Smith said. “Obviously, I know where we’re at. We understand, too, (that we’ve) been in some close games lately and we need to get back over the hump. There will be changes made. Everything that we decide to do, I will be as transparent as possible.”

Not all of Atlanta’s struggles can be pinned on the quarterback. Penalties at key times have caused drives to stall. And due to the Falcons’ lack of explosiveness, that has often resulted in kicking field goals rather than scoring touchdowns.

“You never going to be really good if you’re in a lot of third-and longs,” Smith said. “Certainly, need to be better than what we’ve been the last five weeks. We’ve been in too many; maybe a hold here and gotten off track. I thought we’ve protected pretty well for the most part against some pretty good fronts. But when you get off schedule, those third-and-9-pluses are hard to convert.”

Despite the team’s struggles, Smith is not giving up hope with four games left and the NFC South title still in play.

“We are in a unique spot,” Smith said. “We have a quarter of the season left and we have a late bye. It’s the latest bye that I’ve been a part of. We have to figure out a way to get over the hump.”

–Smith said he expects to get guards Elijah Wilkinson (knee) and Chuma Edoga (knee), nose tackle Jalen Dalton (toe) and linebacker Arnold Ebiketie (forearm) back following the bye week. He also said there’s “a chance to get (center) Matt Hennessey back.”

–Mariota has completed 184 of 300 passes (61.3 percent) for 2,219 yards and 15 touchdowns, with nine interceptions. He’s also the Falcons’ third-leading rusher with 438 yards and four scores.

–Field Level Media

Nov 10, 2022; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Carolina Panthers defensive end Marquis Haynes Sr. (98) sacks Atlanta Falcons quarterback Marcus Mariota (1) in the fourth quarter at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

Arthur Smith: Falcons sticking with Marcus Mariota, no ‘situation’ at QB

Posted on | by Field Level Media

After losing two games in five days, Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith isn’t in panic mode.

Despite some dreary passing numbers and a combined 32 points scored over the two losses, Smith was adamant that Marcus Mariota is the team’s starting quarterback.

“There is no situation,” Smith said. “There never was a situation. Ever.”

In fact, the second-year coach is optimistic about where his Falcons (4-6) stand entering Sunday’s matchup with the Chicago Bears (3-7).

“We are right in the middle of it,” Smith said Monday. “We’re not where we want to be. But the reality is we are right in the middle of a playoff race with a conference opponent coming in here in a game we need to win.”

Atlanta owns the NFL’s fourth-best rushing attack (160.4 yards per game) but ranks 30th in the league in passing yards per game (156.8 ypg). Only the Tennessee Titans (148.2 ypg) and Bears (128.1 ypg) have been worse.

For the season, Mariota has completed 143 of 231 passes for 1,747 yards, 12 touchdowns and seven interceptions. He’s the team’s third-leading rusher (347 yards, three touchdowns) and has done what Smith has asked of him within the framework of a run-oriented offense that relies heavily on play-action passing.

But a big factor in the Falcons’ losses this season has been the results of negative plays and turnovers. And Mariota isn’t the lone man to blame, according to his coach.

“We need to avoid negative plays,” Smith said. “I don’t think an offense is going to be very effective if you’re off track. We’ve been pretty damn good when we’ve been on track. We just haven’t been as consistent lately. Those are things we can eliminate. And that’s not just on the quarterback.”

Atlanta drafted dual-threat quarterback Desmond Ridder in the third round in April’s draft, but Smith shut down any rumors about a potential quarterback change.

“We’re playing the guys who have been playing,” Smith said. “If we were going to make a change, I’d tell you. You’d see it at practice.”

Atlanta and Chicago have been two of the league’s top teams running the ball, and Smith knows his defense faces a challenge trying to contain a three-headed rushing attack which features dual-threat quarterback Justin Fields (749 yards, seven touchdowns) and tailbacks Khalil Herbert (643 yards, four touchdowns) and David Montgomery (434 yards, two scores).

“I think what the Bears have done is they’ve found an identity,” Smith said. “They have a formula right now. You see what their numbers are running the football as well as anybody, and (Fields) is a huge part of that.”

–Chicago enters its game with Atlanta ranked first in the NFL in rushing (201.7 ypg). A big reason for that has been Fields, who passed for 167 yards and two touchdowns and ran for 147 yards and two scores in last week’s 31-30 loss to Detroit.

Fields has been one of the most dynamic players in the league over the last few weeks.

“You can definitely see his confidence growing,” Smith said “He’s strong as hell. He’s certainly probably the strongest guy they got in the backfield so he’s doing a nice job. We are going to have to stop the run, not just him.”

–Atlanta rookie wideout Drake London caught his third touchdown pass of the season in last week’s 25-15 loss to Carolina. It was his first touchdown reception since Week 3’s 27-23 road win over Seattle.

–Field Level Media

Oct 23, 2022; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith calls a time out in the second half against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports

Falcons’ Arthur Smith: ‘Not a disconnect’ between Mariota, Pitts

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Behind every good offense, there is a good offensive line. And the Atlanta Falcons have been fortunate to have one of the league’s best units so far in the 2022 campaign.

But that unit took another hit Sunday when left guard Matt Hennessy injured his knee in the Falcons’ 20-17 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers.

Coach Arthur Smith said Hennessy “won’t be available this week” when the Falcons (4-5) hit the road to take on the Carolina Panthers (2-7) in an NFC South showdown Thursday night.

It was unfortunate luck for Hennessy after he made his first start of the season in place of starting left guard Elijah Wilkinson, who was put on injured reserve before the Los Angeles game.

Veteran Colby Gossett will be the likely starter at left guard against Carolina.

Despite the revolving door at left guard, Atlanta quarterback Marcus Mariota and tight end Kyle Pitts need to connect more in the passing game, especially on the deep ball.

Mariota and Pitts narrowly missed a 34-yard touchdown pass after a slight overthrow from Mariota. Smith thinks the duo will hit those deep tries in the coming weeks.

“There’s not a disconnect,” Smith said. “We’ve been pretty efficient in the red zone. We’ve hit some explosives down the field. Obviously, we’ve got to continue to work that with him and Kyle, which we will.”

Two weeks ago, Carolina started P.J. Walker at quarterback against the Falcons. But he was pulled in the Panthers’ 42-21 loss to Cincinnati in favor of Baker Mayfield.

Regardless of who starts under center for the Panthers, the Falcons will prepare accordingly in an important divisional game.

“If it’s Baker, we’ll see what he did yesterday,” Smith said. “We’ll see how they used him offensively. Or if it’s P.J., it’s what you’ve got to prepare for. They’ll have them ready to go. It’s a divisional game. We got to be ready to roll. It’s a huge opportunity for us Thursday night.”

–Tailback Tyler Allgeier had 10 carries for a career-high 99 yards against the Chargers. Smith said Allgeier has really progressed on third down, in pass protection and as a receiver, which can be a real challenge for rookies.

“He’s really, really intelligent,” Smith said. “All the different looks you get in the NFL, with the speed that you get, a lot of times for rookies it takes a minute to adapt. I think Tyler has certainly made a lot of improvements there … In the passing game, his awareness, understanding where to settle down in zones. He’s got what I call good spatial awareness.”

–Cordarrelle Patterson ran for 44 yards and two touchdowns in his return from an IR stay. He also caught one pass for nine yards. Due to the production of Allgeier and fellow rookie runner Caleb Huntley, Atlanta has the luxury of keeping its veteran running back fresh and play him in a variety of roles.

— Smith also addressed injuries to tight end and special teams contributor Feleipe Franks (calf), starting cornerback A.J. Terrell (hamstring) and safety Erik Harris (foot).

“I think it’ll be tough for Feleipe to make it for Thursday,” Smith said. “When you’re on these short weeks it’s not like you’re able to really crank up full speed tonight or tomorrow, right. … We’ll do the same thing with A.J., kind of assess him, see where he’s at, (as well as) Erik Harris.”

Smith said the Falcons did not plan to activate any players off injured reserve this week, “but that may change next week.”

–Field Level Media

Oct 23, 2022; Cincinnati, Ohio, USA; Atlanta Falcons head coach Arthur Smith calls a time out in the second half against the Cincinnati Bengals at Paycor Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Katie Stratman-USA TODAY Sports

Arthur Smith likes direction of his first-place Falcons

Posted on | by Field Level Media

It’s been years since the Atlanta Falcons have been in first place in the NFC South. But at 4-4, that’s exactly where they find themselves ahead of Sunday’s home date with the Los Angeles Chargers (4-3).

Arthur Smith doesn’t want his team to rest on its laurels. But he is proud of the team’s resiliency and the culture that’s coming together in his second season as coach of the Falcons.

“We’ve just got a lot of good guys, and we’ve got a stable situation,” Smith said. “And I’m hopeful we can continue on this path.

“We try to find the right people and you try to foster the right climate and get the right type of guys. … If somebody doesn’t want to do it that way, you’re probably not changing them.”

Despite throwing two interceptions in Week 8’s dramatic 37-34 overtime win over Carolina, Marcus Mariota had his best passing outing of the season. The eight-year veteran completed 20 of 28 passes and recorded season highs in yards (253) and touchdowns (three).

He also had a 30-yard run in overtime, which set up the eventual game-winning 41-yard field goal by Younghoe Koo with 1:55 remaining.

“I thought when they rushed, they try to rush you down the middle or heavy, (Mariota) was able to get out get and extend that play and flip his hips around,” Smith said. “I thought he made some good plays on play-action. The one he had to Kyle (Pitts) on the first touchdown drive … I thought he progressed pretty well (in the pocket) too.”

Veteran Damiere Byrd has seen his role increase in the Falcons’ passing game in recent weeks — and his rapport with Mariota is improving. The seven-year pro had three receptions for 67 yards and a key 47-yard touchdown reception in the win over the Panthers.

“He’s taken advantage of his opportunity,” Smith said. “He’s a guy that’s been in our program and works extremely hard. He wasn’t getting a lot of snaps earlier in the year, but when his number has been called lately, he’s been making plays for us.”

The Falcons could be in line for another shootout in Week 9 squaring off against a high-powered Chargers offense that features quarterback Justin Herbert and versatile tailback Austin Ekeler.

Los Angeles ranks eighth in the NFL in scoring offense at 23.4 points per game, but at 27 points allowed on average it trails only Detroit for the worst scoring defense in the league. Similarly, the Falcons rank sixth in the league in scoring offense (25.0 ppg) and 28th in scoring defense (25.6 ppg).

“We know we have a challenge this week,” Smith said. “You got a team that’s coming off a bye with one of the best young quarterbacks in the league, so we got to be ready to roll in all three phases.”

–Running back Cordarrelle Patterson is scheduled to return from injured reserve this week. Smith said he’d “talk with team doctors and Cordarrelle” to come up with a plan on Wednesday. Smith did not provide an update on the status of starting cornerback A.J. Terrell (hamstring) and starting safety Jaylinn Hawkins (concussion), but said “if they’re trending like they could be ready, they’ll be out there.”

–Tight end Kyle Pitts had five catches for 80 yards and a score on nine targets against Carolina. The Chargers have had trouble defending the tight end position so he could be poised for a productive outing Sunday.

–Field Level Media

Oct 16, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Marcus Mariota (1) runs for a touchdown against the San Francisco 49ers in the second quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Stellar performance by Marcus Mariota gives Falcons win over 49ers

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Marcus Mariota led a time-consuming offense with near-perfect accuracy, two passing touchdowns and a rushing score Sunday afternoon, leading the Atlanta Falcons to a surprising 28-14 victory over the visiting San Francisco 49ers and spoiling Kyle Shanahan’s homecoming.

Mariota threw a third-quarter touchdown pass of 7 yards to Kyle Pitts to put Atlanta (3-3) up 28-14 and shared the second-half spotlight with the Falcons’ defense, which kept the 49ers (3-3) out of the end zone.

After a 13-for-13 start, Mariota finished 13-for-14 for 129 yards and the two scores. He also contributed 50 yards and a touchdown on six carries, helping Atlanta outrush the visitors 168-50 en route to a third win in its last four outings.

Caleb Huntley (16 carries, 59 yards) and Tyler Allgeier (15 carries, 51 yards) made it three Falcons rushers with 50 or more yards, helping Atlanta run up a 33:25-26:35 dominance in time of possession.

Jimmy Garoppolo threw two first-half touchdown passes to Brandon Aiyuk, but also mixed in a pair of interceptions on a 29-for-41, 296-yard day. George Kittle and Aiyuk each finished with eight catches for 83 yards.

In seeing a two-game winning streak come to an end, the 49ers managed to outgain the turnover-less Falcons 346-289 on a disappointing day for Shanahan, the Falcons’ former Super Bowl offensive coordinator.

A two-fumble touchdown provided the difference in a high-scoring first half in which Mariota threw for one score and ran for another for a 21-14 Falcons advantage.

The unusual touchdown came after Falcons cornerback A.J. Terrell scooped up a Jeff Wilson fumble and returned it to the San Francisco 1, where he fumbled into the end zone. Teammate Jaylinn Hawkins recovered it for the score.

Mariota’s touchdown pass was a 2-yarder to tight end MyCole Pruitt to open the scoring. His scoring run was a 3-yarder with 57 seconds remaining in the half to give Atlanta its halftime lead.

Garoppolo rallied San Francisco from an early 14-point hole with 12- and 14-yard scoring strikes to Aiyuk, the latter with 7:07 remaining in the second period, which wound up being the 49ers’ final points.

–Field Level Media

Sep 11, 2022; Atlanta, Georgia, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterback Marcus Mariota (1) drops back to pass against the New Orleans Saints in the first quarter at Mercedes-Benz Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brett Davis-USA TODAY Sports

Falcons coach Arthur Smith impressed by lines, disappointed by penalties

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Ever since Atlanta blew a 25-point lead in a stunning loss to the New England Patriots in Super Bowl LI more than five years ago, the Falcons have struggled to close out games in their control.

That was apparent again in Sunday’s heartbreaking 27-26 loss to the rival New Orleans Saints. The Falcons had a 16-point lead with 12:41 left on the clock but costly penalties and fourth-quarter struggles on defense led to a loss in the season opener.

Head coach Arthur Smith said Monday that he needs to take a good look at what went right and what went wrong.

“I think if you win or lose, the biggest challenge is, if you really want to improve and have the right mindset, is that you’ve got to be objective and need to be honest,” Smith said.

“It obviously starts with me. What can I do to get better? There are certainly things every week that I can do better, so you don’t make the same mistakes. Or something you see then say, ‘What can we improve on?’ I think the worst thing you can do is not be objective. We stayed aggressive. Got to give New Orleans credit. They made plays. Some of their veterans made plays. But we’ll continue to stay aggressive.”

Despite the loss, Atlanta’s play in the trenches was a bright spot. The Falcons defensive line, led by two-time Pro Bowl selection Grady Jarrett, tallied four sacks.
The offensive line did not allow a sack and opened the holes for a punishing ground attack, led by running back Cordarrelle Patterson (22 carries for 120 yards and a touchdown) and quarterback Marcus Mariota (72 yards and a score), that rolled up 201 yards and two touchdowns and averaged 5.3 yards per carry.

“I thought the lines of scrimmage played pretty well for the most part,” Smith said. “It wasn’t perfect but if you can run the ball for 200 yards, that will give you a chance most weeks. I thought we kept Marcus pretty clean. I was not pleased with the penalties and the (third quarter) turnover in the red zone. But we’ll get that stuff cleaned up.”

Mariota completed 20 of 33 passes for 215 yards in his Falcons debut. Rookie Drake London led the team in receptions (five) and receiving yards (74). Second-year safety Richie Grant had a team-high 10 tackles and a pass defended.

Veteran running back Damien Williams left the game briefly with a rib injury. But Smith said the team escaped Week 1 in good shape on the injury front.

“Obviously Damien, we will continue to evaluate him. See what it looks like. But he did come back into the game,” Atlanta’s second-year head coach said. “Otherwise, obviously the guys are sore. We did play an NFL game. But we are pretty clean otherwise.”

Atlanta plays the defending Super Bowl champion Los Angeles Rams (0-1) on the road in Week 2.

–Field Level Media

Jul 27, 2022; Flowery Branch, GA, USA; Atlanta Falcons quarterbacks Marcus Mariota (1) and Desmond Ridder (4) talk on the field during training camp at IBM Performance Field. Mandatory Credit: Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports

Falcons’ QB plan: Start Marcus Mariota, play Desmond Ridder

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He knows the coach, the system and the league, so it’s no great surprise Marcus Mariota opened Atlanta Falcons training camp as the only quarterback working with the first-team offense.

Rookie Desmond Ridder was informed by head coach Arthur Smith in April that the Falcons plan to open with Mariota and take it from there, allowing Ridder to observe and develop at his pace — barring an injury to Mariota.

“It’s a great opportunity for me to prove to myself,” said Mariota. “I feel very comfortable. Being around Art for all that time in Tennessee, I think that’s where it comes from. For the most part, I feel really comfortable and confident.”

For the first time since Matt Ryan was drafted No. 3 overall in 2008, the Falcons enter a season looking for the right answer at quarterback.

Falcons quarterbacks coach Charles London erased doubt about the depth chart on Wednesday when he declared Mariota the starter.

“Obviously, we’ve got a plan for each of them. Marcus is the starter,” London said. “That’s how we’re going into this thing.”

Part of that decision is taking time to measure Ridder’s progress. Ridder said the system “just came to me” even though he expected to struggle to translate the NFL playbook in his first season.

Smith, who coached Mariota with the Titans and benched him in 2019 in favor of Ryan Tannehill, said the plan is subject to constant review.

“Marcus has been in Coach’s Smith system before, so he knows a lot more,” said Ridder, the 74th overall pick in the 2022 draft. “I am really trying to learn from him, and learn about how he goes about learning the game plan and learning how we do things each and every week.”

Mariota has experience, but rust might also play a factor in where he stands this summer. He logged 89 snaps in the only two NFL seasons (of seven) he spent with the Raiders and without Smith. Mariota’s last NFL start was in October 2019.

Ridder shocked Smith with his approach to the playbook, film study and general preparation in the offseason. Smith said last month that Ridder isn’t a typical rookie in many ways.

“Behind the scenes, the things that he has done, as a rookie, really from the neck up,” Smith said. “How he’s operating, when we’re doing the rookie walk-throughs, when we do these installations and on the field, and his command. Then you’re betting on some of the physical things you see at times to catch up. He’s light years ahead of most young quarterbacks, in terms of playing from the neck up.”

–Field Level Media

Sep 13, 2021; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Marcus Mariota (8) is tackled by Baltimore Ravens defensive back DeShon Elliott (32) and cornerback Marlon Humphrey (44) during the first half at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Raiders reinstate QB Marcus Mariota (quad) from IR

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The Las Vegas Raiders activated backup quarterback Marcus Mariota off the injured reserve list on Saturday.

Mariota sustained a quadriceps injury in the season opener against the Baltimore Ravens while breaking loose on a 31-yard run.

Mariota missed the past four games due to the injury as Nathan Peterman served as Derek Carr’s backup.

The 27-year-old Mariota is in his second season with the Raiders after spending his first five NFL campaigns with the Tennessee Titans.

Mariota, the No. 2 overall pick in 2015, has passed for 13,433 yards, 77 touchdowns and 45 interceptions in 65 games (61 starts). He also has 12 career rushing scores.

Mariota was a college star at Oregon and won the 2014 Heisman Trophy.

The Raiders (3-2) visit the Denver Broncos on Sunday.

–Field Level Media

Nov 30, 2017; Arlington, TX, USA; Washington Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) throws a pass against Dallas Cowboys defensive tackle David Irving (95) in the first quarter at AT&T Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Tim Heitman-USA TODAY Sports

Raiders sign DE Irving to practice squad

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Recently reinstated defensive end David Irving was signed to the practice squad of the Las Vegas Raiders on Tuesday.

On Friday, Irving was removed from an indefinite suspension for violating the NFL’s substance-abuse policy for a second time. He also has violated the NFL’s performance-enhancing substances policy on one occasion.

Irving was suspended indefinitely in March 2019 for a second violation of the league’s substance-abuse policy and a third overall drug violation.

Irving played for the Dallas Cowboys from 2015-18 prior to the latest suspension. Joining the Raiders reunites with him defensive line coach Rod Marinelli, who was Irving’s position coach with the Cowboys.

The 27-year-old Iowa State product last played in the NFL in 2018, when he had four tackles and one sack in two games with the Cowboys.

Overall, he had 56 tackles, 12.5 sacks and five forced fumbles in 37 games (10 starts) with the Cowboys from 2015-18. His best showing came in 2017, when he had seven sacks in eight games.

Irving is currently going through the COVID-19 protocols and is on track to being eligible to enter the Raiders’ team facility on Thursday. Las Vegas has a bye this weekend.

After the March 2019 suspension was announced, Irving said he was quitting football.

Irving missed the first four games of both the 2017 and 2018 seasons due to suspensions. The performance-enhancing-drug violation led to the 2017 suspension and the first substance-abuse violation was the reason for the 2018 discipline.

Irving also was investigated in a domestic-violence incident in 2018 before police in Frisco, Texas, closed the case without filing charges. The claims were made by an ex-girlfriend, who later recanted her story.

The Raiders also activated backup quarterback Marcus Mariota (shoulder, ankle) off injured reserve.

–Field Level Media