Raiders giving this late-round pick some first-team snaps
Shelby Harris feels like a different football player than the one who arrived to his first Raiders camp last summer.
The former seventh-round pick looks like one, too. Harris absolutely demolished Rams quarterback Nick Foles on a sack last week, and as a reward, he's earned first-team reps.
“I’m back, baby,” Harris told ESPN's Bill Willamson after recording an interception in Tuesday's practice.
It's been a long time coming for Harris. The second-year pro had to sit out his final season at Illinois State due to disciplinary reasons, then flopped between the active roster and practice squad all last year.
Harris looks like a force to be reckoned with several months later. He could find a nice home as a rotational defensive end on a team that sorely lacked pass rush.
The fit and the player give Raiders fans reason for optimism. Harris won't celebrate just yet.
“If you celebrate, it might not happen again,” Harris said. “I’m just trying to keep it all going.”
(h/t ESPN)