Raiders Shake Up Linebacker Corps, Release Pratt Amid Defensive Shakeup

On October 6, 2025, the Las Vegas Raiders made a surprising roster move, releasing veteran linebacker Germaine Pratt just four games into his tenure with the team. Pratt, who had been a longtime starter for the Cincinnati Bengals, was signed by the Raiders earlier this offseason as they looked to strengthen their linebacker unit.

Despite the Raiders already having signed Elandon Roberts and Devin White earlier in the offseason, they made Pratt their highest-paid linebacker on the roster. However, his time in Las Vegas was short-lived, as head coach Pete Carroll announced Pratt's release on Monday, October 6th, without providing many details.

Carroll simply stated that the team "just thought it was time to go in a different direction." Pratt's mysterious absence from the team's Week 5 matchup against the Colts, with no injury designation, may have been a precursor to this decision.

The Raiders will now turn to a trio of Malcolm Koonce, Charles Snowden, and Jamal Adams to fill the void left by Pratt's departure. Koonce and Snowden are expected to handle Pratt's edge rush duties, while Adams will assume his coverage responsibilities. Roberts and White will continue to be the team's full-time starting linebackers.

Pratt's release leaves the Raiders with $3.75 million in dead money on his one-year, $4.8 million contract. It remains to be seen if this move was solely based on Pratt's recent performance or if there were other factors at play behind the scenes.