Raiders release injury-plagued safety Tyvon Branch

The Oakland Raiders have officially released safety Tyvon Branch.

The team told Branch last week of its plans to cut ties with him and announced the move on Tuesday.

Branch joined Oakland as a fourth-round pick out of Connecticut in 2008. Branch immediately became an impact player and started 62 of 64 games from 2009-12. He was slowed by injuries the past two seasons and played only five games. He had one year remaining on his contract.

Branch joined the Raiders with running backs Darren McFadden and Marcel Reece. The only other players on the roster with more continuous service are kicker Sebastian Janikowski and long snapper Jon Condo.