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Raiders' Sean Smith, from starting cornerback to nickel linebacker?

Related Topics: Nickel defense

NAPA, Calif. -- For the third day in a row, high-priced veteran cornerback Sean Smith was a second-stringer for the Oakland Raiders, supplanted by TJ Carrie at right cornerback.

Even in the nickel defense, with Carrie on the outside and undrafted rookie Breon Borders in the slot.

But Smith, who signed a four-year, $38 million free-agent contract with Oakland last year, got a different look on Sunday. The 6-foot-3, 220-pounder was in the Raiders’ first-team nickel defense but as a linebacker.

Raiders coach Jack Del Rio was asked if Smith was handling his role well.