The Las Vegas Raiders are set to make a significant move in their secondary, parting ways with veteran cornerback Marcus Peters, according to Vic Tafur of The Athletic. This decision comes after a pivotal moment in Sunday’s game against the Kansas City Chiefs when Peters was benched in the second quarter by interim head coach Antonio Pierce following a missed tackle.
𝗕𝗿𝗲𝗮𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴: #Raiders are expected to cut Pro-Bowl CB Marcus Peters, via @VicTafur
Peters apparently gave “Minimal effort” on some plays, dating back to costly plays in the losses against the #Bears and #Dolphins this season.
Peters had a pick-6 of Jared Goff earlier… https://t.co/xkHf7zGxMb pic.twitter.com/dkXDP6Cvxa
— Dov Kleiman (@NFL_DovKleiman) November 27, 2023
Peters, a two-time first-team All-Pro cornerback, had a brief exchange with Pierce on the sideline during halftime, signaling a strained relationship. With the Raiders having a bye week in Week 13, it’s highly unlikely that Peters will return to the team for their Week 14 matchup against the Minnesota Vikings, as reported by Tafur.
The 30-year-old cornerback joined the Raiders on a one-year, $3-million contract in July, but his performance during the 2023 season had been inconsistent, with 11 missed tackles recorded prior to Sunday’s game, according to Football Reference.
Despite his ups and downs, Peters started in Las Vegas’ first 12 games and made notable contributions, including recording five passes defensed and a pick-six in the team’s October 30 loss to the Detroit Lions.
With this move, the Raiders, who currently hold a 5-7 record, aim to make adjustments in their secondary as they navigate the second half of the NFL season under the leadership of interim head coach Antonio Pierce, who now boasts a 2-2 record in the role.