With all the injuries at the cornerback spot, it’s the next man up for the Las Vegas Raiders. One of the players who shined Sunday was defensive back Brandon Facyson.Â
A Welcomed Contributor
After both Trayvon Mullen and Damon Arnette landed on injured reserve, the Raiders had a problem at the cornerback position. While Casey Hayward was still locking opponents down and Nate Hobbs was manning the slot, the Raiders needed another player on the boundary. In an under-the-radar move, the team signed little-known cornerback Brandon Facyson off the Los Angeles Chargers practice squad. He joined Hayward, Denzel Perryman, Roderic Teamer, and Darius Philon as former Chargers players that joined Las Vegas this season.
However, most Raiders fans did not expect much from the new arrival. So, when Teddy Bridgewater threw an interception early on Sunday, it sent many Raiders fans to Google who this new corner was. After a stellar performance against the Denver Broncos, what can Raiders fans expect going forward?
Picked off! Brandon Facyson is there for the INT.#LVvsDEN is live on CBS. pic.twitter.com/PZPWYmHICf
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) October 17, 2021
While at Virginia Tech, Facyson struggled with injuries. After breaking his leg in 2014, Facyson would return to be a starter and had a stellar season in 2017 with five pass breakups. Entering the 2018 NFL draft, Facyson was projected by some to be a late-day three selection. However, he went undrafted. For a player with his build at a premier position, this was a surprise.
Gus Bradley Connection
Alas, Gus Bradley saw potential in the former Hokie. So much so that the UDFA played in 15 games his rookie year. He would play in all sixteen the next season and thirteen in his third season. Unfortunately, Facyson was relegated to the practice squad following Bradley’s departure.
When the Raiders cornerback room took a hit, Bradley was quick to target Facyson. Only 27 years old, the lengthy corner had quite the debut in Las Vegas. With three tackles, two passes defensed, and an interception, the newcomer has earned some more snaps. After a game where he snagged his first career interception, Facyson is still relatively unknown. Regardless, he played with great energy and instincts on Sunday and has guaranteed himself more playing time in the future.
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*Top Photo: Michael Clemens/Las Vegas Raiders