ALAMEDA, Calif. _ The Raiders identified their backup quarterback Saturday and said farewell to the "white tiger."
AJ McCarron, signed by the Buffalo Bills in the offseason to compete for the starting job, will join the Raiders in exchange for a fifth-round draft pick, the Raiders announced. Bryant, a wide receiver acquired from the Pittsburgh Steelers in exchange for a third-round draft pick, was released in the initial cutdown to 53 players.
The moves were first reported by NFL Media and ESPN.
McCarron arrives at the expense of EJ Manuel and Connor Cook. Despite Manuel's strong performance in the exhibition finale against Seattle, he was released, having turned the ball over on fumbles in each of the first three exhibition games. Cook, a fourth-round draft pick in 2016 whom the Raiders traded up to get, was also released.
A backup to Andy Dalton in Seattle from 2014 through 2017, McCarron played in 11 games with three starts and has a 2-1 record. He played at Alabama under Nick Saban, where he won a national championship.
Bryant had missed practice time with headaches and at one point was referred to by Gruden as the "white tiger" because his appearances were rare. Bryant, ESPN and NFL Media reported, is facing a pending suspension for being in violation on the NFL policy on substance abuse.
If suspended, it would likely be for an indefinite period after already serving a four-game suspension in 2015 as well as the entire 2016 season.
