For a total of 100 days, we'll take a look at the men who have played for the Raiders jersey number by jersey number. This series will highlight some of the greatest players in NFL history. In some cases, the player and jersey number are synonymous. In other cases, the jersey number represents sustained greatness at a particular position. Some players are superstitious about their jersey number. Whatever the case may be, jersey numbers are an important part of the fabric of professional football.
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| The Raiders selected LB Kirk Morrison in the 3rd round of the 2005 NFL Draft. |
Seventeen players have worn No. 52 in Raiders history, 14 linebackers, one center, and another who played multiple positions.
Larry Barnes – FB/LB/K – 1960
Barnes played fullback and punted for the San Francisco 49ers in 1957. Although listed as a linebacker for the Raiders, Barnes saw action as the team's placekicker. He made 6 of 25 field goal attempts and 37 of 39 extra point attempts in 14 games.
J.R. Williamson – LB – 1964-67
Williamson was selected by the Raiders in the 8th round of the 1964 AFL Draft out of Louisiana Tech. He played in 57 games with 27 starts and grabbed two interceptions for nine yards. He went on to play three seasons for the Boston Patriots.
Jerry Hopkins – LB – 1968
Hopkins joined the Raiders after four years with the Broncos and one with the Dolphins. He played in five games and recovered two fumbles.
Gary Weaver – LB – 1973-74
The Raiders selected Weaver in the 7th round of the 1973 NFL Draft out of Fresno State. He played in 24 games and recovered two fumbles.
Floyd Rice – LB – 1976-77
Rice joined the Raiders after playing for the Oilers and Chargers from 1971-75. He played in 23 games with 11 starts and logged two interceptions and one fumble recovery.
Greg Westbrooks – 1978-81
Westbrooks spent the first three years of his career with the Saints. He spent the next four between the Raiders and the Rams. He played in a total of 10 games for the Raiders.
Mario Celotto – LB – 1980-81
Celotto joined the Raiders after a season in Buffalo and played in 18 games for Oakland before he was acquired by the Rams.
Jim Romano – C – 1982-84
The Raiders selected Romano in the 2nd round of the 1982 NFL Draft out of Penn State. He played in 12 games with two starts for the Raiders before he was acquired by the Houston Oilers.
Mark Merrill – LB – 1984
After spending time with the Jets, Bears, Broncos, Packers and Bills from 1978-84, Merrill played in two games for the Raiders during the 1984 season.
Linden King – LB – 1986-89
King joined the Raiders after eight years with the San Diego Chargers. He played in 56 games with 34 starts and recorded one interception and recovered four fumbles, returning one for a touchdown.
Mike Jones – LB – 1991-96, 2002
Jones played in 95 games with 34 starts from 1991-96 and three games during his second stint with the Raiders in 2002. He recorded one sack, one interception for 23 yards, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries (one returned for a TD), and 238 solo tackles.
Richard Harvey – 1998-99
Harvey joined the Raiders after two years with New England, two with Buffalo, one with Denver and three with New Orleans. He played in 31 games with 31 starts and recorded six sacks, one interception and 116 solo tackles. He finished his career with one year in San Diego.
Kirk Morrison – LB – 2005-09
The Raiders selected Morrison in the 3rd round of the 2005 NFL Draft out of San Diego State. He played in 80 games with 79 starts and recorded five sacks, seven interceptions for 126 yards, six forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries (one returned for a TD), and 497 solo tackles. He was traded to Jacksonville in 2010 and he also played for Buffalo.
Quentin Groves – LB – 2010-11
The Raiders acquired Groves in a trade with Jacksonville. He played in 30 games with 15 starts and logged one interception, one forced fumble, two fumble recoveries and 43 solo tackles. He has gone on to play for Arizona and Cleveland.
Philip Wheeler – LB – 2012
Wheeler joined the Raiders after four years with the Colts. He played in 16 games with 16 starts and recorded three sacks, two forced fumbles, one fumble recovery, and 78 solo tackles.
Martez Wilson - LB - 2013
Wilson was claimed off waivers from the Saints. He spent three games with the Raiders during the 2013 season. He finished the year with the Cowboys
Khalil Mack - LB - 2014-Present
The fifth overall pick in the 2014 NFL Draft enjoyed a dominant rookie campaign, starting all 16 games for the Silver and Black while totaling 84 tackles (59 solo), four sacks, four passes defensed and one forced fumble.
