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ALAMEDA — The Raiders are super thin at wide receiver.
Martavis Bryant has already been ruled out Sunday against Arizona and should miss several more weeks at least. Jordy Nelson has a bone bruise near his knee, and wasn’t able to practice on Wednesday. He hasn’t been ruled out of anything, but it seems unlikely he’ll play in the Valley of the Sun.
That puts Marcell Ateman in position to be active for the first time all season. The Raiders also promoted Saeed Blacknall from the practice squad and signed two young receivers to the prep unit.
Ateman could see some action, a moment he’s certainly looking forward to after spending most of the season on the practice squad.
“Competing against our starting defense certainly has helped me,” Ateman said. “I have continued to grind and work on my routes. I didn’t want to take a back seat just because I was on the practice squad. Coach (Jon Gruden) said I would get my opportunity sometime. That chance is finally here.”
Brandon LaFell and Seth Roberts should start at receiver against the Cardinals, with Ateman and Dwayne Harris in the mix.
[RELATED: Raiders sign seventh-round pick Ateman]
The position group has taken a severe hit with injuries and the Amari Cooper trade, generating a real depletion of talent.
Ateman is a big-body receiver who makes up for a relative lack of speed with good positioning and excellent hands. He could be a deep threat for the Raiders even though he isn’t a speed demon.
He had a strong training camp and preseason and believes he has improved over the past few months.
“I think I’m even better,” Ateman said. “I wanted to keep grinding and working and be a better version of myself.”
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