ALAMEDA, Calif. – The Oakland Raiders have signed unrestricted free agent S Reggie Nelson, the club announced Thursday.
Nelson has spent the last six seasons with the Cincinnati Bengals after beginning his career with the Jacksonville Jaguars from 2007-09. He has played in 138 games with 125 starts over his nine-year career, totaling 683 tackles (467 solo), 30 interceptions, 80 passes defensed, nine forced fumbles, five fumble recoveries and 6.5 sacks. In seven postseason appearances, all starts, Nelson has registered 38 tackles (33 solo), two sacks and one fumble recovery.
In 2015, Nelson tied for the league lead and set a career high with eight interceptions en route to earning his first Pro Bowl selection. He recorded an interception in five straight games and finished the season with 72 tackles (50), 14 passes defensed and two fumble recoveries.
The 5-foot-11, 210-pounder originally entered the league as a first-round pick (21st overall) by the Jacksonville Jaguars in the 2007 NFL Draft. Nelson has posted multiple interceptions in eight of his nine seasons, and has also started 47 consecutive games (including postseason) over the last three years.
The Melbourne, Fla., native started 18 of his 25 games over two seasons at Florida from 2005-06. As a senior in 2006, Nelson posted six interceptions to help lead the Gators to a BCS National Championship, earning a first-team All-American selection and the Jack Tatum Award as the nation's top defensive back.
