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Raiders: rookie linebacker Ben Heeney is ‘next man up’

The Raiders are looking for answers, so “next man up” takes on a more ominous, less pep-talky tone these days when a player gets hurt and a replacement is tapped.

Oakland (4-6) has lost three straight games, and on Sunday, the Raiders gave rookie linebacker Ben Heeney 38 snaps, more than he played in the previous nine games combined. He passed the test, and on Tuesday, the team waived linebacker Ray Ray Armstrong.

Heeney had five tackles, a sack and broke up a pass.

“He plays hard,” head coach Jack Del Rio said.