The Raiders announced a quintet of roster moves Monday, releasing cornerback Ron Bartell and fullback Owen Schmitt while reinstating middle linebacker Rolando McClain from reserve/suspended by club to the active roster and promoting cornerback Chimdi Chekwa from the practice squad. Also, safety Akwasi Owusu-Ansah was re-signed to the practice squad.
And while the reinstatement of McClain from his two-game suspension for conduct detrimental to the team may seem somewhat surprising, the club said in a release that McClain "is not required to return to the team until he has an opportunity to meet with Coach (Dennis) Allen, in Texas for his father's Monday funeral. At some point after his return, Coach Allen will meet with McClain to discuss the linebacker's role."
Chekwa, meanwhile, was a fourth-round draft pick of the previous Raiders regime in 2011 and has spent the entire season on the practice squad. Last year, he played in four games with one start.
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As for the former Raiders, Bartell signed a one-year deal for a reported $1.7 million on March 16 to shore up the secondary a year after missing 15-plus games with a broken bone in his neck suffered with St. Louis for the Rams' 2011 season opener. Then, in the Raiders' season opener this season, he broke a shoulder blade against San Diego and missed the next seven games on the NFL's new injured reserve/designated to return list.
In his return, his play was uneven as he was benched in the middle of the Raiders' loss to Cleveland last week.
Schmitt, meanwhile, had appeared in 12 games, starting one, and had two carries, for one one.