Young is the third Raider to retire since Friday
Another day, another Las Vegas Raiders’ player has retired.
The Raiders announced on Tuesday afternoon that veteran backup tackle Sam Young has retired.
We have placed T Sam Young on the Reserve/Retired list. pic.twitter.com/lArs3Dvv7P
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) August 3, 2021
Young’s retirement continues a trend in Las Vegas’ training camp. On Friday, backup running back Theo Riddick retired, and on Monday, linebacker James Onwuala announced his retirement. Running backs coach Kirby Wilson retired last month. Off the field, business executives Marc Badain and Brandon Doll both also recently left the franchise.
While the onslaught of player retirements may seem alarming, it’s not all that unusual. On occasion, veteran players decide they want to leave the game during training camp so I wouldn’t look at it as an indictment of coach Jon Gruden’s program.
Young was likely on the bubble to make the Raiders’ 53-man roster after he re-signed in the spring anyway. Right now, the Raiders’ top backups at tackle are Jaryd Jones-Smith and Brandon Parker, so Young’s retirement certainly helps Parker’s chances of making the team. If Parker — the first pick of the third round of the 2018 draft — doesn’t perform well in the preseason, the Raiders may want to add at the position. That may be a possibility, anyway. Las Vegas has a roster opening.
Young played one season with the Raiders. While he had a difficult time staying healthy, he was valuable to the Raiders with starter Trent Brown hurt so much. Young, 34, played 11 seasons in the NFL and and started seven games for the Raiders in 2020.