Las Vegas Raiders cornerback Marcus Peters. Stephen R. Sylvanie-USA TODAY Sports

Raiders planning to release star CB following Week 12 benching

By Victor Barbosa | Last updated 11/27/23

The Las Vegas Raiders are reportedly expected to release cornerback Marcus Peters following his Week 12 benching against the Kansas City Chiefs.

Vic Tafur of The Athletic wrote that Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce benched Peters in the second quarter after his "latest olé on a tackle attempt."

#Raiders interim coach Antonio Pierce said it was "coach's decision" for Peters to sit.
— Paul Gutierrez (@PGutierrezESPN) November 27, 2023

Marcus Peters is owed the remaining balance on his $1.1m 2023 salary. He also gets a $60,000 per game bonus for each game he’s active. So @Raiders would save $300,000 if they decide to move on.
— Vincent Bonsignore (@VinnyBonsignore) November 27, 2023

Las Vegas signed the 30-year-old to a one-year deal in July but the relationship has soured over the fall.

Per Tafur, Pierce and Peters "had a brief exchange on the sideline at halftime" on Sunday before the interim coach "walked away and Peters watched the second half by himself wearing a beanie."

"Pierce wouldn’t go into detail on his decision, but there have been several instances this season when it looked like Peters gave minimal effort on some plays, dating back to costly plays in the losses against the Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins," Tafur wrote.

The insider added that the Washington product was "almost cut" earlier in the campaign according to his team and league sources and is "not expected back when the team returns from its bye week."

Peters has played and started in all 12 games for the Raiders this season and ranks second on the team with five passes defended. The three-time Pro Bowler, two-time First-Team All-Pro and former AP Defensive Rookie of the Year has just one interception on the year, but it was a 75-yard pick-six against the Detroit Lions in Week 8.

Peters missed the entire 2021 season with a torn ACL and posted a career-low one interception across 13 games in 2022 with the Baltimore Ravens.

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