ALAMEDA – Raiders first-round safety Karl Joseph played zero defensive snaps during Sunday’s victory over New Orleans.
That defied initial projections that he would be an opening day starter. That designation went to Keith McGill, a 2014 fourth-rounder recently converted to safety.
Joseph isn’t quite ready for that. That’s understandable considering he’s still less than a year removed from ACL surgery and missed the offseason program rehabbing from the procedure.
The Raiders believe Joseph will become a quality contributor. That might not be right away.
“At some point he’ll work in,” head coach Jack Del Rio said.