{"id":991348,"date":"2026-09-04T05:09:31","date_gmt":"2026-09-04T05:09:31","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/991348\/"},"modified":"2026-09-04T05:09:31","modified_gmt":"2026-09-04T05:09:31","slug":"john-spytek-just-keeps-proving-himself-over-and-over-again-and-this-time-it-was-with-the-las-vegas-raiders-practice-squad","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.rawchili.com\/nfl\/991348\/","title":{"rendered":"John Spytek just keeps proving himself over and over again, and this time it was with the Las Vegas Raiders practice squad"},"content":{"rendered":"

\t\t\t\t\t\tHome<\/a><\/p>\n

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\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tNFL<\/a><\/p>\n

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\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tLas Vegas Raiders<\/a><\/p>\n

The Las Vegas Raiders just made some very, very good practice squad moves, especially the additions of Evan Neal and Azeez Ojulari.<\/p>\n

\t\t\t\t\"Las
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tOct 5, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Philadelphia Eagles linebacker Azeez Ojulari (13) pressures Denver Broncos quarterback Bo Nix (10) at Lincoln Financial Field. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-Imagn Images
\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tEric Hartline-Imagn Images<\/p>\n

The Las Vegas Raiders<\/a> have made several practice squad moves, and general manager John Spytek may have quietly put together some solid additions. The headliner is former New York Giants<\/a> offensive tackle Evan Neal, the 7th overall pick in the 2022 NFL Draft. <\/p>\n

Las Vegas also added former Giants edge rusher Azeez Ojulari, a second-round pick in 2021, along with wide receiver Ronnie Bell. The Raiders released Jahfari Harvey, tackle Kamar Missouri, and tight end Albert Okwuegbunam to make room.<\/p>\n

We have signed WR Ronnie Bell, G Evan Neal, and DE Azeez Ojulari to the practice squad.<\/p>\n

In a corresponding move, we have released DE Jahfari Harvey, T Kamar Missouri, and TE Albert Okwuegbunam from the practice squad. pic.twitter.com\/fHqsrTKy3B<\/a><\/p>\n

\u2014 Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) September 4, 2026<\/a><\/p>\n

The Neal addition sounds impressive on paper when you mention his draft pedigree, but there\u2019s a reason he\u2019s a former first-round pick now landing on a practice squad. His three NFL seasons tell a rough story.<\/p>\n

In 2022, Neal played 13 games and logged 695 snaps but had 24 blown blocks, 21 of those in pass protection. He was actually pretty decent in the run game. Then 2023 got worse: only seven games, 439 snaps, 28 blown blocks (25 in the passing game), two holds, and two false starts. In 2024, he managed eight games, 424 snaps, 18 blown blocks (13 in pass protection), and six false starts. The production just has not translated at the NFL level.<\/p>\n

Why Neal still makes sense as a practice squad addition<\/p>\n

This is a practice squad move. Neal is not going to move the needle as a starter, and he probably will not crack the 53-man roster right now. But injuries happen on the offensive line all the time. DJ Glaze hasn\u2019t missed time since he was drafted, but if an injury ever happened to Glaze or to Trey Zuhn, who would be next up? Neal brings over 1,000 career snaps of experience. He didn\u2019t play last year, but the experience is there.<\/p>\n

Has he been bad in the pass game? Yes. But he\u2019s been solid in the run game, and the right tackle spot is quarterback Kirk Cousins\u2019 non-blindside. That doesn\u2019t make it a non-issue, but it softens the blow if he ever has to step in for a game or two. As practice-squad insurance, Neal is perfect for what the Raiders need.<\/p>\n

Ojulari fills a real hole on the defensive line<\/p>\n

Ojulari spent his first four years with the Giants before playing for the Philadelphia Eagles<\/a> last season. In 49 career games with 32 starts, he\u2019s compiled 22 sacks, 113 total tackles, 38 quarterback hits, four forced fumbles, three fumble recoveries, and three pass deflections. Is that the production you want from a second-round pick through five years? Not really. But for a practice squad addition, those are solid numbers.<\/p>\n

The timing matters here. The Raiders now have a hole in the defensive end room with Keyron Crawford out for the year with an Achilles injury. Ojulari can step in as depth and potentially work his way onto the active roster if he shows enough. Replacing Harvey with Ojulari on the practice squad was the right call. Bell\u2019s addition is not as significant as the other two, but the Raiders\u2019 wide receiver room is thin enough that any player who can make some type of impact counts as a win.<\/p>\n

Spytek made the right calls<\/p>\n

These are exactly the type of players you want stashed on a practice squad. Former high draft picks with real NFL experience who still have enough left in the tank to contribute if called upon. Neal and Ojulari in particular would be solid even as third-string options on the 53-man roster, let alone practice squad players who could work their way up.<\/p>\n

The Raiders are not counting on these moves to change the trajectory of their season. But having quality depth waiting in the wings when injuries inevitably hit is not a bad spot to be in at all.<\/p>\n

\"Play<\/a><\/p>\n

\t\t\t\"Las\t\t<\/p>\n

Las Vegas Raiders News<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\tLas Vegas Raiders make a shocking roster move after using their waiver wire advantage in a way not many saw coming\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a><\/p>\n

The Las Vegas Raiders only signed one guy with their No. 1 waiver wire spot, and that was Darrell Luter Jr. They then waived Decamerion Richardson.<\/p>\n