ALAMEDA, Calif. -- Despite giving Jordy Nelson a $3.6 million roster bonus in December and coach Jon Gruden saying the veteran receiver would return to the Oakland Raiders in 2019, the team released Nelson on Thursday, the team announced.
The Raiders also created cap room by releasing quarterback AJ McCarron.
Nelson, who turns 34 on May 31, caught 63 passes for 739 yards and three touchdowns over 15 games in a disjointed, injury-plagued lone season for Oakland.
"Normally, when you hand out a bonus for next year's season, there's a pretty good chance those guys are coming back," Gruden said Dec.