The Oakland Raiders’ pass defense badly needs a boost, and it will get one Sunday when safety Nate Allen is set to play for the first time since Week 1.
Allen has been on the injured reserve-designation to return list with a knee injury suffered in the season opener. Oakland defensive coordinator Ken Norton said he expects Allen to play Sunday against Minnesota. The Raiders are coming off of allowing a franchise-record 597 yards to Pittsburgh, including 284 yards to receiver Antonio Brown. The Raiders’ pass defense is ranked last in the NFL.
"Having Nate Allen back really strengthens our secondary,” Norton said. “[It] makes us better in every way and we welcome him with open arms.”
TJ Carrie, who moved to safety in Week 3, will move back to cornerback. Norton declined to discuss the exact secondary lineup or his game plan, but he did say Carrie has benefited from this move.
“It makes him more versatile,” Norton said. “I think he understands the game not just from a corner standpoint, [but] now from being a safety standpoint, seeing the whole field as opposed to just seeing a side of the field. He’s involved in the run game as a safety, as opposed to not as a corner. So he’s learned a lot about football. I think he’s a better football player because of it.”
Meanwhile, rookie safety Tevin McDonald was cut. Allen will take his spot on the 53-man roster in the next day or two.
