The Raiders released veteran offensive tackle Austin Howard late Thursday night.
Howard, 30, started 39 games for the Raiders over the past three years, coming in as a guard before moving back to his more natural tackle position the last two years. He was not projected to be in the battle for the starting right tackle job this season, and the team was waiting for him to heal up from shoulder surgery before making a move.
Howard gave himself up for the team last season, starting in Week 2 when an ankle injury wasn’t healed because Oakland had two other lineman injured in the season-opener.