The Oakland Raiders have claimed defensive back Coye Francies on waivers, the team announced Wednesday. Francies, who played in eight games with the Cleveland Browns from 2009-10, was released by the Seattle Seahawks on Monday.
His addition gives the Raiders a player with college and NFL experience as a kickoff returner. Francies, who will see his former teammates in the Raiders’ preseason finale Thursday at CenturyLink Field, has returned three kickoffs for 66 yards (22.0 avg.) this preseason.
The 6-foot-1, 185-pound Francies, whose name is pronounced KOY fran-SEES, totaled seven tackles and one pass defensed in two seasons with the Browns after entering the league as Cleveland’s sixth-round pick (191st overall) in the 2009 NFL Draft.
Francies, who will wear No. 31 for Oakland, played for the Las Vegas Locomotives in the United Football League in 2010, recording two interceptions and helping the team capture the league championship. He was signed to the Seahawks’ practice squad in December.
The Rancho Cordova, Calif., native played one year at San Jose State after transferring from Oregon State. He also played at American River Junior College.
To make room on the team's active roster, the Raiders Tuesday waived defensive back Conroy Black.
The Raiders also moved OL
