ALAMEDA — The release of veteran safety D.J. Swearinger and the signing of running back Rod Smith were the most notable transactions Tuesday, a day after coach Jon Gruden alluded to “changes” following the Raiders’ third consecutive one-sided loss.
Swearinger was signed to the roster after Karl Joseph was lost to the season with a Lisfranc injury that required surgery. He debuted in a 17-10 win over the Cincinnati Bengals where he generally played well, but was less effective in the three-game losing streak that followed, games in which he logged 35, 47 and 51 snaps.
In his fifth season out of Ohio State, Smith (6-foot-3, 236 pounds) has more bulk than DeAndre Washington and Jalen Richard , who assumed the load when Josh Jacobs was unable to play against Tennessee because of a shoulder injury.