Raiders sign receiver familiar with Chip Kelly’s offense

The Las Vegas Raiders have made one of the first roster moves of the offseason.

Free agency does not officially begin until March 12. However, that has not stopped the Raiders from making a minor move to help add depth to a position in desperate need of it.

On Tuesday, the Raiders announced that they have officially signed wide receiver Kyle Philips from the Philadelphia Eagles’ practice squad. In a related roster move, the team has also waived defensive back Keenan Isaac.

What does Philips bring to the Raiders?

While Philips’ NFL career has not gone quite as planned, he still has some promise attached.

A former fifth-round pick of the Tennessee Titans in 2022, Philips appeared in 13 games with the team in his first two seasons. In 2023, Philips recorded 15 receptions for 181 yards in nine games, as well as returning four punts for 23 yards. Injuries limited his playing time however, and he was ultimately waived by the Titans with an injury designation.

He has been with the Eagles’ practice squad since, but Philips is still only 25 years old, so the potential is there.

Also working in Philips’s favor is his relationship with Raiders offensive coordinator Chip Kelly. Prior to being drafted, Philips was a receiver for the UCLA Bruins for four years (2018-21), all of which featured Kelly as head coach. During that time, he recorded 163 receptions for 1,821 yards and 17 touchdowns.

The Raiders believe there is at least some potential with Philips on the roster, and he now hopes to earn a roster spot for the upcoming season.