The Las Vegas Raiders got hit with another tough blow in what’s already been a bumpy season. During their Week 14 AFC West clash with the Denver Broncos, cornerback Kyu Blu Kelly went down with a knee injury - and it’s a serious one. The team confirmed that Kelly tore his patellar tendon, a brutal injury that ends his season and puts his offseason recovery timeline into question.
For a young player trying to carve out a consistent role, this is a tough setback. Kelly’s year has been a bit of a rollercoaster, but losing him at this stage is still a significant hit to a secondary that’s already thin on depth. With the Raiders essentially out of playoff contention, the focus now shifts to development - and that means opportunity for some of the younger faces in the room.
Enter rookie Darien Porter. He’s been one of the bright spots in an otherwise forgettable campaign, and now he’ll step into a full-time starting role opposite Eric Stokes. Porter’s shown flashes of promise, and this stretch run gives him a chance to prove he can be a long-term piece in the Raiders’ defensive puzzle.
With Kelly sidelined and no other outside corners on the active roster, the door also opens for second-year player Decamerion Richardson. He hasn’t logged a defensive snap all season, but that could change quickly. Richardson is now the next man up behind Stokes and Porter, and he’ll be expected to contribute, especially with a high-powered Eagles offense on deck in Week 15.
The Raiders weren’t content to stand pat, though. On Tuesday, they made a move to bolster the cornerback room, officially placing Kelly on injured reserve and signing Chigozie Anusiem from the Arizona Cardinals’ practice squad.
Anusiem isn’t a household name, but he brings some intriguing traits to the table. At 6-foot-2, 200 pounds, with 4.39 speed and a 37.5-inch vertical, he checks a lot of the athletic boxes teams covet at the position. He played his college ball at Cal and Colorado State, went undrafted in 2024, and has bounced around a bit - from Washington’s practice squad to a brief stint on Cleveland’s active roster late last season.
His only NFL game action came in Week 18 with the Browns in 2024, and while he hasn’t played in a game this season, he’s been developing on Arizona’s practice squad. Now, he gets a shot in Las Vegas - and while he’s not expected to jump straight into a starting role, he could carve out a niche on special teams or in late-game reps.
One question fans might have is why the Raiders didn’t elevate a cornerback from their own practice squad. The answer is simple: they didn’t have one. After promoting Greedy Vance Jr. last week, the cupboard was bare at that position, prompting the move to bring in Anusiem from outside the organization.
Looking ahead, Richardson figures to be the primary backup behind Stokes and Porter, at least for the immediate future. But don’t be surprised if Anusiem gets a look, especially on special teams. With the Raiders playing out the string, this is the time to evaluate young talent - and Anusiem, with his physical tools, is exactly the kind of player you take a flier on in December.
It’s not the kind of news the Raiders wanted, but in a season like this, every injury opens the door for someone else. Now it’s up to Porter, Richardson, and Anusiem to make the most of their shot.