Alameda native Keelan Doss is coming back home after the Oakland Raiders re-signed him Monday, Sept. 9.

The Alameda native signed a one-year deal with the Raiders to fill the void left after the team released wide receiver Antonio Brown Saturday, Sept. 7. Brown was released after numerous clashes with team management. He eventually signed with the New England Patriots.

Doss’ new contract ensures him a spot on the Raiders’ 53-man active roster — players eligible to participate in regular-season games. Doss signed with the Raiders while a member of the Jacksonville Jaguars’ practice squad — players who practice with the team, but are ineligible to participate in regular-season games. Per National Football League (NFL) rules, any team can sign a player from another team’s practice squad as long as they are signed to the new team’s active roster. 

Doss, who graduated from Alameda High School in 2014, initially signed with the Raiders as an undrafted free agent after the 2019 NFL draft in April. After taking part in the club’s training camp and four preseason games, in which the wide receiver caught 17 passes for 162 yards and scored a touchdown, he was released by the club Saturday, Aug. 31. 

The Raiders tried to sign Doss to the team’s practice squad, but Doss declined. Instead, Doss signed with the Jaguars to join their practice squad (“Former Hornet Standout to Practice with Jaguars” Sept. 5) a day after being released by the Raiders. 

When Brown was released by the Raiders, the team made overtures to Doss to rejoin the club, but Doss declined initially. According to the NFL Network, the Jaguars offered to increase Doss’s salary to the minimum salary of an active-roster rookie. It is usually uncommon for practice-squad players to earn as much as active-roster players. However, the Raiders continued to pursue Doss and the two sides agreed on a deal. According to the NFL Network the deal is worth almost $800,000.

Doss had a heralded collegiate career at UC Davis after graduating from Alameda High. He spent five years on the Aggie football team. He redshirted his second year on the team. In his last two seasons he caught 233 receptions for 2,833 yards and 16 touchdowns.

The Raiders began the 2019 season with a 24-16 victory over the Denver Broncos Monday, Sept. 9. Doss did not play in the game.