Head coach Jon Gruden said there would be changes on defense after the 42-21 loss to the Titans. After his press conference, the Raiders announced they would part ways with Safety D.J. Swearinger, LB Preston Brown, and DT Terrell McClain.
Swearinger only played in Silver and Black for a short time, but there was a marked decline in the amount of man coverage Paul Guenther could call with the journeyman safety in the game. As a result, the Raiders employed multiple configurations of defensive backfields in the last several week.