Rookie Karl Joseph has been out a while with a toe injury, but the Raiders fared well at strong safety thanks to quality play from Nate Allen. The veteran reserve has extended experience as a starter, and worked well with Reggie Nelson in the defensive backfield.
A stable position got shaky early in Sunday’s 24-6 loss at Denver, when Allen suffered a concussion and did not return. Keith McGill was the next man up, but he was terrible. He struggled to make tackles, and got a quick hook.
Coaches turned to special teams ace Brynden Trawick, a safety by trade who doesn’t play much defense. Before Sunday, he played two defensive snaps.
Stay in the game with the latest updates on your beloved Bay Area and California sports teams! Sign up here for our All Access Daily newsletter.
Trawick played 50 against the Broncos. He performed well despite a lack of practice reps, recording nine tackles, a pass defensed and his first career interception.
If Allen or Joseph can’t play Saturday’s playoff opener at Houston – Joseph is getting closer to a return -- Trawick could be the primary backup. If neither guy can go, Trawick could start an important game.
Mario Edwards Jr.’s snap count was low in his second game back from a hip injury, though he is likely only in certain packages. He played 17 defensive snaps and had two tackles. He’s been a reserve to this point, but could play a starter’s snaps in the postseason. The Raiders need his interior pass rush and run defense against the Texans.
Quarterback Matt McGloin played 22 snaps before leaving with an injured neck/shoulder. Connor Cook took over late in the second quarter and played 32 snaps in nine series.
NFL
Left tackle Donald Penn missed some snaps with a bum knee, but was able to return and finish the game.
Let’s take a look at the entire Raiders snap count:
OFFENSE
54 – OL Rodney Hudson, OL Menelik Watson, OL Gabe Jackson
53 – OL Kelechi Osemele
48 – OL Donald Penn
42 – WR Amari Cooper
41 – TE Clive Walford
35 – WR Michael Crabtree
32 – WR Seth Roberts, Connor Cook
27 – TE Mychal Rivera
22 – QB Matt McGloin
21 – RB DeAndre Washington
20 – OL Vadal Alexander
16 – RB Latavius Murray
14 – WR Andre Holmes
11 – RB Jalen Richard
10 – FB Jamize Olawale
5 – WR Johnny Holton
DEFENSE
73 – LB Perry Riley, LB Malcolm Smith, S Reggie Nelson
71 – CB Sean Smith, CB David Amerson
66 – DE Khalil Mack
65 – LB Crue Irvin
61 – DL Denico Autry
50 – S Brynden Trawick
39 – CB TJ Carrie, DL Darius Latham
28 – DL Dan Williams
26 – DL Justin Ellis
17 – Mario Edwards Jr.
16 – DL Jihad Ward
14 – S Nate Allen
12 – DE James Cowser
7 – Keith McGill
2 – LB Daren Bates
SPECIAL TEAMS
26 – Daren Bates
25 – Brynden Trawick
21 – Andre Holmes, Jamize Olawale, Cory James
19 – James Cowser
18 – Taiwan Jones
13 – Tyrell Adams
12 – Keith McGill , Dexter McDonald
11 –Jalen Richard, TJ Carrie
10 – Darius Latham
8 –Marquette King, Jon Condo
6 – DeAndre Washington
5 – Johnny Holton, Khalil Mack, Bruce Irvin, Denico Autry, Dan Williams
4 – Mario Edwards Jr.
3 – Mychal Rivera, Nate Allen
NOTE: Snap counts taken from official NFL game book