Raiders miss key defensive players
The Raiders were without several key players on defense Thursday night against the Chargers in what was Rod Marinelli’s first game as the team’s defensive coordinator.
Defensive end Clelin Ferrell (shoulder), linebacker Nicholas Morrow (concussion), safety Johnathan Abram (concussion) and cornerbacks Damon Arnette (concussion) and Nevin Lawson (illness) were all inactive, as were tackle Brandon Parker and quarterback Nathan Peterman. Lawson, if available, would have likely started in place of Arnette.
Arden Key made his first start of the season for the Raiders as he replaced Ferrell at defensive end. Raekwon McMillan made his first start since Week 10 versus Denver and was part of a linebacker corps that included Cory Littleton and Nick Kwiatkoski.
With the Raiders secondary so banged up, cornerback Isaiah Johnson and strong safety Dallin Leavitt made their first career NFL starts. Littleton and defensive end Carl Nassib were two of the Raiders’ big-ticket free agent acquisitions in the offseason, and neither has approached the level of production they and the club had expected.
Nassib, who played as a 3- 4 outside linebacker with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, signed with the Raiders because they offered him three years worth a maximum of $25 million and more than $16 million guar
anteed, but also so he could play with his hand in the dirt as a 4-3 end.
Coming into Thursday, though, Nassib had just 11/2 sacks and his playing time in terms of snaps wasn’t what you’d expect of a big investment. He was inactive as a healthy scratch the last two weeks against the Jets and Colts.
Littleton signed a three-year deal worth a maximum of $35.25 million with $22 million in guarantees. Considered one of the NFL’s better linebackers in pass coverage with the Los Angeles Rams, Littleton has struggled in that area and also with his tackling, although he was playing nearly every snap.
Both Nassib and Littleton had three first-half tackles against the Chargers.
When Littleton tested positive for COVID-19 and missed two games, Morrow played so well in a full-time role he retained the position. Littleton, in the three games since his return, has played in 58%, 55% and 54% of the snaps in his past three games before Thursday while his special teams role has increased.
Given the size of the contracts Nassib and Littleton signed, they’ll still be on the roster in 2021. The Raiders
would be on the hook for significant acceleration against what is expected to be a smaller salary cap because of the COVID-19 pandemic.
OLSON OUT >> Also unavailable for the Raiders on Thursday was offensive coordinator Greg Olson, 57, who missed the game for COVID-19 related reasons, the club announced. Olson does much of the in-game work with quarterback Derek Carr in between series, with coach Jon Gruden as the play caller. Olson’s responsibilities was absorbed by the offensive staff, the Raiders said.
Out for Las Vegas were rookie wide receiver Henry Ruggs III, who was placed on the COVID-19 reserve list Tuesday, and safety Jeff Heath (injured reserve).
ODE TO OAKLAND? >> East Bay Raiders fans might want to think of it as a sign that Gruden misses his old home. More than likely, though, it was just an innocent mistake.
Gruden began Thursday’s game at Allegiant Stadium by wearing an Oakland Raiders cap, a boo-boo that did not escape numerous sleuths on social media. The hat slip was quickly corrected, as Gruden soon was wearing a similarly styled Las Vegas Raiders cap.