Nick Roach wanted to continue playing, but the Oakland Raiders ultimately decided his health issues were too serious for him to remain with the team.

Oakland cut Roach and safety Usama Young on Friday because they failed physicals. Roach missed all of the 2014 season with a concussion he suffered in the preseason at Green Bay. Young tore his ACL during the 2014 season and was put on injured reserve.

Roach didn't miss a snap in 2013, his first season in Oakland. The Raiders wanted Roach back, but general manager Reggie McKenzie made it clear last month that the team was concerned about his long-term health.

"You've got to start looking out for the player. We'll continue to communicate with the medical staff and I'll talk to Nick and we'll make the decision," McKenzie said.

"But I'm in the best interests of the player and as much as we'd love him to be our signal caller on defense, I don't want to risk life-long injury if he goes out there. Especially if he has any, not discomfort, but any type of feeling within him that something's not right. And for it to last this long is not a good thing."

Roach was hoping to play this season as late as last week, according to a source. But his issues made it impossible for the Raiders to move forward.

The moves save the Raiders more than $3 million combined and they are now set to have $67 million in salary-cap room when free agency starts Tuesday.

Both middle linebacker and safety will be a priority for Oakland in the offseason. Among the middle linebackers the Raiders may look at in free agency are the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' Mason Foster, the Denver Broncos' Nate Irving and the Seattle Seahawks' Malcolm Smith, an outside linebacker who scouts around the league think can play in the middle. Irving played for new Raiders coach Jack Del Rio in Denver and Smith played for new defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. with the Seahawks. At safety, Denver's Rahim Moore is a possibility.

In other Raiders' notes, safety Tyvon Branch, cut Tuesday, is reportedly going to visit with the Kansas City Chiefs. He has also visited with the Indianapolis Colts and Washington Redskins.