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Defensive lineman Isaac Rochell has been released by the Raiders. The timing couldn’t have been worse on that announcement.
The news broke just hours after the organization honored his family on social media, and his reaction to being cut was so relatable.
On Tuesday, the Raiders’ X (formerly Twitter) account posted a video recognizing Rochell’s older brother, who served in the Air Force. With the Veteran’s Day holiday passing over the weekend, the video spotlighted his time at the Academy as both a cadet and football player.
Isaac Rochell recognizes his brother’s military and athletic contributions to the Air Force
— Las Vegas Raiders (@Raiders) November 14, 2023
The post came accompanied by an article on the Las Vegas’s official team website, which further delved into Isaac’s relationship with his big brother, Matt.
Isaac learned everything about basic training and how Matt was navigating [serving] along with playing football. The left tackle for the Air Force Falcons didn’t sugarcoat the experience to his younger brother.
The piece talked about how close the duo was growing up, as well as the fact that they got an opportunity to line up against one another with their respective college football programs (Isaac played at Notre Dame).
But just a few hours after posting that honorary clip, Rochell announced that he’d been released.
I’ve been released by the @Raiders
— Isaac Christopher Rochell (@isaacrochell91) November 14, 2023
Moments later, the defender reposted that family spotlight video with a message that read, “This is objectively really bad timing.”
Fans in the comments section couldn’t help but agree.
“The Raider Way! Give praise and then cut!”
“Someone needs to keep the social media team informed.”
“The Raiders recognize Isaac Rochell by using him to show support for our troops, then release him a few hours later.”
“Huge L.”
Rochell was signed by the team this offseason but was unable to finish out the year. We’ll see if he gets another NFL opportunity before the season’s through.