The Raiders sat starters and key role players during Thursday’s exhibition loss to Seattle. There were a few notable exceptions, and most came from the 2016 draft class.
All seven picks played extensive snaps against the Seahawks, even those expected to start the regular-season opener at New Orleans.
First-round safety Karl Joseph played 31 defensive snaps and eight more on special teams as he continues to work after missing the offseason program recovering from an ACL repair. Second-round defensive lineman Jihad Ward played 32 defensive snaps, mostly at an open defensive end spot Mario Edwards Jr. would play when healthy.
Shilique Calhoun led all Raiders with 54 snaps and had 18 more on special teams. He made good use of his time, with three tackles, a sack and two quarterback hits.
Quarterback Connor Cook played three quarters, rusher DeAndre Washington had 20 overall touches, linebacker Cory James played 32 snaps and offensive lineman Vadal Alexander played the entire game.
“We felt like it was important for them to get that experience,” head coach Jack Del Rio said.
The 2016 draft class gained experience without injury, an important fact considering how many will be counted on to contribute right away.
Young players have developed well this preseason, and this final game was an important step in their continued evolution. That’s even true for the highest-profile draft pick.
“It was nice just kind of getting a rhythm for it, with the play calling and everything,” Joseph said. “It definitely helped. I think I definitely needed this game heading into the regular season. (I’m) feeling a lot more comfortable every game, so I just have to keep improving.”
Calhoun certainly feels like a better player for all the experience.
“Honestly, it has been a total 180-(degree turn),” Calhoun said. “In Week 1, I was just still dazed and confused and trying to understand the defense, and now going into this fourth preseason game, I understand things a lot better. That goes along with having great veterans to help you understand how each and every play kind of breaks down.”
The complete snap count is listed below.
OFFENSE
65 – OL Matt McCants, OL Vadal Alexander, OL Oni Omoile, OL Denver Kirkland
53 – QB Connor Cook
49 – WR K.J. Brent
46 – OL Mitch Bell
45 – WR Johnny Holton
38 – WR Jaydon Mickens
37 – RB DeAndre Washington
35 – TE Ryan O’Malley
28 – TE Mychal Rivera
23 – TE Jake McGee
22 – RB George Atkinson III
19 – OL Austin Howard
12 – QB Matt McGloin
11 – RB Jalen Richard
8 – WR Andre Holmes
7 – WR Seth Roberts
DEFENSE
54 – LB Shilique Calhoun
46 – CB Neiko Thorpe
45 – LB Korey Toomer
41 – DL Darius Latham
40 – DB Antonio Hamilton, DL Branden Jackson
34 – CB Dexter McDonald
32 – LB Cory James
31 – S Karl Joseph
30 – S Dewey McDonald
29 – Denico Autry
27 – DL Greg Townsend Jr.
25 – S Keith McGill
24 – CB Kenneth Durden
21 – S Brynden Trawick
20 – CB TJ Carrie
18 – DL Drew Iddings
17 – LB Darren Bates, LB John Lotulelei, DL Derrick Lott
13 – LB Kyrie Wilson
8 – DE James Cowser
SPECIAL TEAMS
20 – George Atkinson III
18 – Daren Bates, Neiko Thorpe, Shilique Calhoun
15 – Cory James
14 – John Lotulelei
13 –Brynden Trawick, Greg Townsend Jr., Korey Toomer
12 – Jon Condo, Marquette King, Kyrie Wilson, Antonio Hamilton, Mychal Rivera
10 – James Cowser, Keith McGill, Jake McGee, Ryan O’Malley, Johnny Holton
9 – Dewey McDonald, Darius Latham
8 – Sebastian Janikowski, TJ Carrie, Karl Joseph
7 – Kenneth Durden, Branden Jackson, DeAndre Washington
6 – Andre Holmes
5 – Dexter McDonald, K.J. Brent
3 – Derrick Lott, Jalen Richard, Mitch Bell, Denver Kirkland, Oni Omoile, Vadal Alexander, Matt McCants, Drew Iddings, Stacy McGee, Jihad Ward
1 – Marvin Hall, Jaydon Mickens
NOTE: Snap counts taken from official game book
