Raiders’ Place Kaluka Maiava on Injured Reserve

Maui’s Kaluka Maiava was put on season-ending injured reserve Saturday, Dec. 7. File photo by Tony Gonzales.

By Rodney S. Yap

With four games left in the season, the Oakland Raiders placed linebacker Kaluka Maiava on season-ending injured reserve.

The news on Maiava came from the team’s website at raiders.com Saturday afternoon. ESPN.com reports Maiava’s move means he is officially off the team’s 53-man roster, while opening a pair of options for the 46-man game-day roster on the eve of the team’s game with the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium.

The Baldwin High School graduate, who was expected to compete for the starting job at weak-side linebacker, has endured an injury-plagued season that saw him start one game. Maiava did appear in nine games, recording 17 tackles, including 10 solo. The fifth-year pro also added one special teams tackle while playing a key role on all special teams units.

Maiava had been struggling with a rib injury but was playing through it. Then he added a calf injury last week at Dallas. The Raiders activated Miles Burris recently and he is expected take over Maiava’s reserve linebacker duties.