NaVorro Bowman Still In The Mix To Return To The Raiders?

According to an NFL Network report on Friday, the Raiders are signing veteran linebacker Derrick Johnson.

Johnson is 35 and was released in February after spending 13 years with the Kansas City Chiefs. His production has been in decline so it’s fair to wonder if the Raiders really see him as a solution at linebacker and does his signing mark the end of NaVorro Bowman’s run with the Raiders?

It depends on who you listen to.

The Athletic’s Vic Tafur suggested the Raiders offer to Bowman is no longer on the table, while a report out of Las Vegas says the door isn’t completely shut on Bowman returning to the Raiders.

For #Raiders fans asking about where this leaves Bowman, they are still talking but can’t settle on a price that both sides agree on…while the door isn’t closed, it’s not as likely as a few weeks ago that he returns. Stay tuned

— Joe Arrigo (@joearrigo) May 4, 2018

Realistically, it looks like Bowman may have overplayed his hand and the Raiders have all but moved on.

With the addition of Johnson, whom the Raiders have yet to announce, the Raiders now have 12 linebackers on the roster, but the competition at middle linebacker still isn’t particularly fierce.

And another name could soon be thrown into the mix…

Former Texans LB Brian Cushing is scheduled to visit the Raiders on Sunday, per source.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) May 4, 2018

Cushing is only 31 – which seems young right about now – but has a history of significant knee injuries and was suspended for ten games in 2017 for violating the NFL’s substance abuse policy – his second such violation (2010).

twitter: @raidersbeat