Raiders Snap Count: Karl Joseph Sees Playing Time Surge Vs. Chargers

OAKLAND -- Karl Joseph has been buried on the Raiders' depth chart all season. The 2016 first-round draft pick was the No. 4 option behind Marcus Gilchrist, Reggie Nelson and Erik Harris at safety.

Safety play was terrible with that pecking order, though, so Raiders coaches mixed things up during Sunday's 20-6 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers, putting Joseph front and center, especially in the base defense.

Joseph played 45 of 56 defensive snaps, generally partnered with Gilchrist in the back. Nelson was a bit player, tallying just 12 defensive snaps. Harris only had 11.

Joseph made five tackles in the loss, including a few big hits while charging forward from the back end. He allowed one 18-yard catch on as many targets, according to analytics site Pro Football Focus.

The Raiders' pass coverage was better than usual in this game, including on the outside. Daryl Worley was a fixture there, and Rashaan Melvin re-entered the fray after two games as a healthy scratch. Generally speaking, Melvin split time with Gareon Conley, and he allowed two catches for seven yards on three targets, per PFF.

Conley is a solid cover man, but tackling issues have been exposed on big plays this season. It happened again against the Chargers, with him and Nelson missing Melvin Gordon on his 66-yard touchdown catch-and-run.

Rookie cornerback Nick Nelson played a season-high 24 snaps in this game, and Leon Hall's workload dropped to a season-low 12.

Shilique Calhoun also was more involved, totaling 24 snaps rushing off the edge. He had four tackles, including one for a loss, and he had a sack taken away on a roughing-the-passer penalty by Johnathan Hankins.

The Raiders featured Nick Morrow and Jason Cabinda more in the linebacker corps, though Tahir Whitehead remained the defense's only true full-time player.

Here's a complete look at Raiders snaps counts on offense and defense Sunday:

Offense

Quarterback -- Derek Carr 63
Running back -- Doug Martin 30, Jalen Richard 27, Keith Smith 9, DeAndre Washington 6
Wide receiver -- Brandon LaFell 57, Jordy Nelson 43, Martavis Bryant 35, Seth Roberts 28, Dwayne Harris 2
Tight end -- Jared Cook 37, Lee Smith 23, Derek Carrier 18
Offensive line -- Gabe Jackson 63, Rodney Hudson 63, Brandon Parker 63, Kolton Miller 63

Defense

Total defensive snaps -- 56
Defensive line -- Maurice Hurst 39, Johnathan Hankins 38, Frostee Rucker 38, Arden Key 37, Shilique Calhoun 24, PJ Hall 24, Jacquies Smith 13, Clinton McDonald 5
Linebacker -- Tahir Whitehead 56, Nick Morrow 36, Marquel Lee 20, Jason Cabinda 20
Defensive back -- Marcus Gilchrist 50, Karl Joseph 45, Daryl Worley 44, Gareon Conley 37, Rashaan Melvin 31, Nick Nelson 24, Reggie Nelson 29, Leon Hall 12, Reggie Nelson 12, Erik Harris 11

Special teams

E.Harris 20, Lee 20, Kyle Wilber 19, Carrier, K.Smith 18, D.Harris 16, Morrow 16, Calhoun 16, N.Nelson 11, L.Smith 8, Washington 6, Gilchrist 6, Worley 6, Johnny Townsend 6, Trent Sieg 6, Daniel Carlson 5, Cabinda 5, R.Nelson 5, McDonald 4, Hankins 4, Whitehead 4, Conley 3, Key 3, Melvin 3, Joseph 3, Osemele 2, Jackson 2, Jon Fecliano 2, David Sharpe 2, Miller 2, Parker 2, Rucker 1

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