The only position group that has been more in flux this season than the secondary has been the wide receiving corps. And they’re at it again this week with the release of DJ Swearinger. Let’s look at this timeline of changes in the defensive secondary.
There was the injury in the opener to first-round safety Johnathan Abram that had Erik Harris step back into a starting role. Then there was the trade of Gareon Conley to the Texans after Week 7 that had rookie Trayvon Mullen step into a starting job. Then the season-ending injury to Karl Joseph had the team sign Swearinger.
Now, following the team’s third-straight blowout loss, with the defense giving up at least 34 points each game, Swearinger is out and someone needs to replace him at safety.
Plucking a safety off the street is not so easy. Not only would that player come in without having a clue what he’s doing in the scheme, but there just isn’t anyone out there worth adding. Swearinger was one of those guys and now he’s out.
What the Raiders will do is use the players they have and move some pieces around.
To fill in at safety, Gruden said Daryl Worley will move over from his cornerback spot. Gruden also mentioned special teams player Dallin Leavitt as possible seeing some snaps on defense at safety. Curtis Riley is the other reserve safety, but in even his brief stints at the position, he hasn’t played well.
Lamarcus Joyner has played safety as well, but Gruden likes him at the nickel cornerback spot and feels that would be a “Rob Peter to pay Paul” type move because then he’d have to find a new nickel corner.
Finding a new starter on the outside is seen as an easier prospect. The top candidate for that, based on who was active for last Sunday’s game, would figure to be Nevin Lawson. Undrafted rookie Keisean Nixon could see some snaps as well as the fourth cornerback.
Rookie fourth-rounder Isaiah Johnson was inactive last week and the need for depth could move him onto the active roster Sunday and get him a few snaps as well. That would have recent practice squad cornerback Nick Nelson as simply insurance.
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