ALAMEDA -- The Raiders have signed recently released veteran cornerback Joselio Hanson and cut DeMarcus Van Dyke to make room on the 53-man roster, meaning the Raiders now have no active cornerbacks who return from last season.
Hanson (5-foot-9, 180 pounds) played the last seven seasons with the Eagles and has played in 104 career games with 19 starts. Before that he played his rookie season with the 49ers, who signed him as an undrafted free agent out of Texas Tech in 2003.
The Raiders now have six active corners -- starters Shawntae Spencer and Ron Bartell, Hanson, Pat Lee, Coye Francies and Phillip Adams -- none of whom were on the roster last year. (Chimdi Chekwa, who did play in four games for the Raiders last year, was waived Saturday and signed to the practice squad).
An announcement about the signing did not mention a corresponding move, but Van Dyke is not listed on the Raiders' roster and a team official confirmed he was released. Van Dyke tweeted this morning: "Just want to thank AL Davis and the Raiders organization for giving me a opportunity to play in the NFL!" The second-year corner flashed a lot of potential early in training camp after playing in 14 games his rookie season, including four starts, but struggled in preseason games. He is not eligible for the practice squad.
Bartell was with the Rams last year, missing 15 games with a neck injury. Spencer played in nine games for the 49ers. The Raiders signed Lee, a former Packer, in free agency in March. Adams spent parts of last season with the Patriots and Seahawks. Francies, signed after the Seahawks cut him in camp, last played in the NFL for the Browns in 2010.
* Receivers Jacoby Ford (foot) and Denarius Moore (hamstring) were the only members of the 53-man roster not practicing today. Center Stefen Wisniewski is back in after missing several weeks with a calf injury. Defensive tackle Richard Seymour is also practicing. Receiver Juron Criner was at practice with a helmet but appeared to be favoring his left lower leg.
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