Daren Bates is a Raiders core special teams player, someone at or near the maximum snaps for that phase of the game. If the kicking game is in operation, the veteran linebacker is generally working in.
Rarely does he get snaps at his natural position. Raiders interior linebackers generally don’t come off the field in this defense, with Malcolm Smith and now Cory James as fixtures on the field.
James played all 89 snaps in Sunday’s 28-27 victory over the Baltimore Ravens. Smith did not. He suffered a groin injury in the second half and did not return, forcing a bench player into action.