Raiders Week 16 snap counts vs Broncos: 3 reserve DBs step up to play nearly every snap

Just prior to Sunday’s game against the Broncos, the Raiders got back nickel cornerback Nate Hobbs from the reserve/COVID-19 list. Then, shockingly, he didn’t see a snap on defense.

Hobbs was instead replaced in the slot by former undrafted CB Keisean Nixon who would end up playing 76% of the snaps (32). He wasn’t the only reserve to step up and play big minutes. In fact he was one of three defense backs to step up with starters out.

This past week the Raiders placed safety Johnathan Abram and CB Trayvon Mullen on injured reserve. They also placed CB Brandon Facyson — who had been starting in place of the injured Mullen much of the season — on the reserve/COVID-19 list.

In their place, two Raiders DB’s got their first starts of the season.

Talk about going deep into the depth chart.

Dallin Leavitt got the start and played every snap (42) at strong safety while Desmond Trufant — who was just signed in late October and who just last week played a grand total of two snaps — started at outside corner and missed just one snap (41).

The only full time starting DB’s to play on defense were FS Tre’von Moehrig and CB Casey Hayward.

It worked out well considering the Raiders gave up just eight first downs in the game and 10 of the Broncos’ 13 points came off turnovers.