Kyu Blu Kelly: Everything you need to know

The Raiders did not tender Kelly (knee) as a restricted free agent Wednesday, per the NFL's transaction log. Kelly ended the 2025 season on injured reserve after rupturing the patella tendon in his left knee in Week 14 against the Broncos. Before the injury, the 2023 fifth-rounder appeared in 13 regular-season games (eight starts) for the Raiders and finished with 40 tackles (31 solo), six pass defenses (three interceptions) and one fumble recovery. It's unclear when Kelly would be cleared to return to on-field action, but once he progresses enough in his recovery to do so, he should garner interest from teams looking to bolster their secondary.

The Raiders placed Kelly (knee) on injured reserve Tuesday. Kelly was carted off the field during last Sunday's 24-17 loss to the Broncos. The cornerback suffered a severe knee injury in the first quarter of the game and was unable to return. Darien Porter will likely finish the season at outside cornerback opposite Eric Stokes in Kelly's absence.

Kelly suffered a ruptured patella tendon during the Raiders' 24-17 loss to the Broncos on Sunday, Mike Garafolo of NFL Network reports. Kelly was carted off the field and into the locker room after sustaining the injury in the first quarter of Sunday's game. Garafolo relays that there is some good news in that Kelly did not suffer any ligament damage, which opens the door for the third-year cornerback to return at some point during the 2026 campaign. Kelly will end the 2025 regular season with 40 tackles (31 solo), six pass defenses (three interceptions) and one fumble recovery across 13 games. With Kelly done for the year, rookie third-rounder Darien Porter is poised for a larger role on the outside corner.