Raiders' Amari Gainer makes his case for NFL inclusion as an undrafted rookie | Raiders News

Amari Gainer had one last chance to prove he belongs in the NFL when the Raiders faced the 49ers in their final preseason game at Allegiant Stadium on Friday night.

The rookie free agent linebacker who was not selected in the draft passed with flying colors.

Gainer made 12 tackles, including 10 solo, in a 24-24 tie that was only decided on the last play.

Although the goal was to make a solid impression on the coaching staff before making final lineup decisions, Gainer didn't want to make too much of a good game.

“Every moment is important,” he said. “Every time I walk into the building, it's just about doing my best and being great, whether it's a game, a practice or a meet. I just have to do my best and be the best I can be.”

He has been exceptional throughout training camp, often earning unsolicited praise from coach Antonio Pierce and his assistants. Pierce again had Gainer's highest praise on Friday.

“Amari did a really good job,” he said. “You get a chance, you make the most of it. If I was a player, I wouldn't want to be taken out of the game now that there are cuts. He hung in there until the end and called the defense tonight — that was his first time doing that too. Those are just some bright spots and things he can learn from as well.”

Gainer acknowledged that he had heard the praise, but tried not to make too much of it.

“We always keep the inside inside and focus on what's in front of us,” he said. “Be a team. You can't let the positive or negative noise get to your head. You have to stay positive and grounded and live in the here and now. I think that's what helped me.”

Gainer, who spent four seasons at Florida State University before completing one season at North Carolina State University, believes he has proven he belongs in the NFL and is proud of his accomplishments during the process.

“I think I'm a great guy on and off the field,” he said. “Your character will take you far, so I think this is just the beginning.”

Just get going

Kicker Daniel Carlson failed to tackle a long kickoff return by the 49ers in the first half.

Luckily for the Raiders, he showed that he is still pretty good at kicking the ball through the goal posts.

Carlson scored a 43-yard field goal in the final minute to force the tie.

“That's exactly what you want from a third preseason game,” he said. “In these circumstances you want to do a few repetitions and of course you do. I got my heart rate up a little and it was an exciting game at the end.”

As a kicker, you never want to be the last defender standing between a returner and the goal line during a kickoff.

Carlson saw this when Isaac Guerendo broke free and made a 93-yard kick return, the longest of the preseason under the new NFL rules.

Although he failed to bring down Guerendo and his form was not optimal, Carlson got his hands on the speedy running back and may have slowed him down just enough for Sam Webb to catch him at the 4-yard line.

“I got him to cut back and Sam Webb did a heroic job of chasing him down,” Carlson said. “It's preseason. (The tackling) still needs to improve.”

Punter AJ Cole, whose locker is next to Carlson's, said the play needs to be examined more closely in the film room.

“We’ll definitely check it out,” Cole said, laughing.

Red flag

Pierce decided to throw a challenge flag on the first possession of the game because he believed 49ers running back Jordan Mason did not have both feet on the field of play when the ball was ruled a catch on the field.

The referees agreed with the Raiders coach and overturned the replay participants' decision.

It was a good test of the Raiders' approach to deciding when to play before league-deciding games.

“There were a lot of things that were done in the first and second games that we're tweaking and evaluating, myself and Matt Sheldon, who handles game management and the timeouts that you saw there,” Pierce said. “We're trying to get that right and are constantly working on it. It's really preparation for everybody, for me, for everybody getting ready for the regular season.”

New type

Linebacker DeShaun White made two tackles in limited action after signing with the team this week.

White originally signed with the Bills last season after spending four years in Oklahoma and played this season in the United Football League with the Michigan Panthers.

He took over the roster spot that became vacant when the team placed receiver Jeff Foreman, who was carted off the field with a serious leg injury during a practice in Costa Mesa, California, on the injured list, thus ending his season.

Contact Adam Hill at [email protected]. Follow @AdamHillLVRJ on X.