Raiders waive LB Ray-Ray Armstrong

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ALAMEDA – Linebacker Ray-Ray Armstrong didn’t play a defensive snap for the Raiders on Sunday in Detroit. He won’t make another one.

The team waived him on Tuesday afternoon.

Armstrong was a first-team regular during the offseason program and training camp. He started the season-opener and played every snap, but his playing time decreased due to ineffectiveness.

The Raiders started using other options as a coverage linebacker opposite Malcolm Smith, from Curtis Lofton to Neiron Ball to Ben Heeney. Aldon Smith was a fixture off the edge, and Mario Edwards Jr. played there on Sunday, the first game after Smith’s suspension.

Armstrong was an aggressive, high-energy player, but often played out of control. That dropped him on the depth chart and made him a reserve with several options ahead of him.

That allowed the Raiders to release him at this stage. His release did not come with a corresponding move. The Raiders now have an open roster spot, which will presumably be filled by a linebacker.

He finished the season with 21 tackles and a sack.

Armstrong was recently in the news for allegedly taunting a police dog before a Nov. 8 game at Pittsburgh, though charges were not filed. 

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