Raiders add DB Coye Francies

Originally published on SBReport.net on Aug. 29, 2012

The Oakland Raiders announced the addition of Coye Francies on Wednesday, picking up the defensive back on waivers. 

The addition gives the Raiders another kick returner as Francois has returned three kickoffs this season for 66 yards. The Raiders have struggled in the kick-return game and added wide receiver Roscoe Parrish on Tuesday in an attempt to find some explosiveness in kick returns. Wide receivers Jacoby Ford and Denarius Moore usually handle the kickoff and punt returns, respectively, but have been out due to injury for much of the preseason. 

Francies is a Northern California native, growing up and attending high school in Rancho Cordova, Calif. before playing at American River Junior College. From there, Francois attended Oregon State before transferring to San Jose State, where he played football for one year. 

Francies was released by the Seattle Seahawks on Monday, the team the Raiders take on Thursday night in Seattle. 

Francies was originally drafted by the Cleveland Browns in the sixth round of the 2009 NFL Draft. He then appeared in eight games for the Browns from 2009-2010. Francies then went to the United Football League to play for the Las Vegas Locomotives in 2010, hauling in two interceptions and helping the team win the league championship before being signed to the Seahawks' practice squad last December. 

The Raiders announced that they have waived defensive back Conroy Black to make room for Francies. 

The team also moved offensive lineman Zach Hurd (head), fullback Rashawn Jackson (hip), and offensive lineman Ed Wang (shoulder) from the waived/injured to the injured reserve.