The Las Vegas Raiders announced on Friday that they have let go of offensive lineman D.J. Fluker. Fluker’s last NFL appearance was on Jan. 16, 2021, during the Baltimore Ravens’ defeat against the Buffalo Bills in the AFC playoffs. Throughout the 2021 season, Fluker was associated with the Raiders, Miami Dolphins, and Jacksonville Jaguars but did not play in any games.
Before the 2021 season, Fluker joined the Dolphins as a free agent. However, he was placed on injured reserve by Miami on July 29, 2021, and was subsequently released with an injury settlement after undergoing meniscus surgery. During the 2021 season, Fluker spent six weeks on the practice squad of the Las Vegas Raiders. Although he was dressed for the Jacksonville Jaguars’ game on Jan. 2, he did not play due to being signed just two days earlier when the team had numerous players on reserve/COVID-19.
Fluker was inactive in 2022 but documented his journey to return to peak condition and the NFL via social media after his weight peaked at 427 pounds. He participated in Alabama’s pro day in March 2023.
On December 12, Fluker re-entered the NFL scene when he was signed by Las Vegas for its practice squad. He remained with the Raiders for the last four weeks of the regular season, and the team re-signed him on Jan. 8, following their season-ending victory over the Kansas City Chiefs.
Throughout his NFL career, Fluker has participated in 108 regular-season games and seven playoff games, starting in 101 of them. He was initially drafted as the 11th pick in the 2013 draft.
Fluker’s football journey began after Hurricane Katrina destroyed his family’s home in New Orleans. He attended McGill-Toolen in Mobile and Foley for his high school education.
During his college years, Fluker played as the right tackle for Alabama’s BCS national championship teams in 2011 and 2012. In the NFL, he played right tackle for the San Diego Chargers in his first two seasons and transitioned to right guard for the following two seasons.
Although Fluker had a promising start with the Chargers, his tenure ended abruptly when the team opted not to exercise their fifth-year option on his rookie contract due to its high price. He then signed with the New York Giants for one year before moving to the Seattle Seahawks, where he contributed significantly to the team’s rushing success in 2018. However, injuries affected his performance during his time with the Seahawks, leading to his release after the 2020 NFL Draft.
In 2020, Fluker signed a one-year contract with the Baltimore Ravens, playing in every game and starting half of them at right tackle that season.
