Raiders sign defensive tackle Ethan Westbrooks

Las Vegas signs another defensive tackle

As they continue to use training camp as a time to tinker on the defensive side of the ball, the Las Vegas Raiders added a familiar face who has the same roots as the organization.

The Raiders announced Wednesday afternoon they have signed defensive tackle Ethan Westbrooks. He was with the team in training camp in 2019, but didn’t make the 53-man roster. Westbrooks is from Oakland. Cornerback Shaun Crawford, who never had much of a chance to make the 53-man roster this year, was cut to make space for the 6’4, 287-pound Westbrooks.

Westbrooks spent some time in the 2020 offseason with the San Francisco 49ers. He hasn’t played in a NFL regular-season game since 2018 when he was with the Los Angeles Rams. Westbrooks, 30, played in 67 NFL games with 11 starts in five seasons with the Rams. He has 79 tackles and nine sacks in his career.

He joins Darius Philon has a player who hasn’t played in three seasons trying to make it as a defensive lineman with the Raiders. The Raiders have a crowded room at defensive tackle, especially after the recent signing of veteran Gerald McCoy.

On the surface, it looks like Westbrooks would be a long shot to make the team, but there is a reason why he was signed, so maybe he has a chance.