ALAMEDA – Raiders safety Nate Allen was signed to be the starting free safety, an invaluable piece to the defensive puzzle who would rarely, if ever, leave the field.

Unless, of course, injury yanked him off it.

That happened just 11 defensive snaps into his Raiders debut. Linebacker Ray-Ray Armstrong rolled into the side of Allen’s knee, tearing his MCL in the process. The ailment didn’t need surgery, but it forced Allen onto short-term injured reserve. The designation mandates he be out six weeks of practice and miss games for eight calendar weeks.

Allen has been practicing a while, but is physically ready and finally eligible to play Sunday against Minnesota. The timing couldn’t be better. The Raiders allowed a franchise-worst 597 yards in a 38-35 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers, a result featuring an ailing secondary in desperate need of help.

[BAIR: Analysis: Defense must bounce back for Raiders to contend]

“Nate was playing very well before he went down with the injury,” head coach Jack Del Rio said. “We welcome him back. He had been working really hard on the side with the trainers, with the strength coaches. Joined practice for the last couple of weeks and he’s been moving along really well. He’s excited about joining this team.”

His Raiders are certainly excited he’s ready to return. Allen has been a productive ball hawk who can play as a single-high safety or in a tandem. He can play either safety spot and should ease a burden on Charles Woodson, playing with a weak, often painful right shoulder.

His return could create a domino effect that strengthens the secondary in two spots. Cornerback TJ Carrie moved to safety shortly after Allen went down, and filled in well. The Raiders’ best perimeter cover man should return to his natural position and add depth to the cornerback corps.

It will be a significant upgrade over Sunday’s loss to the Steelers, a game Carrie missed with shoulder and hip issues. Del Rio expects him back next week against the Vikings.

“It was difficult to sit out and not be able to help the team,” Carrie said. “That was something painful to experience. You work so hard with these guys. You want to be out there with them.”

The Raiders don’t discuss game plans, but Carrie will help a weakness. DJ Hayden and David Amerson have fared well at times and missed other lock-down opportunities. Carrie’s versatility could allow Woodson to take a few snaps off, though the 39-year old insists that isn’t necessary.

“I don’t know how to be hurt,” Woodson said. “To be honest with you, I’ve been injured where you can’t play. But, if I’m able to get up and play, I’m not coming off the field.”

Woodson has been an inspiration to this unit, which was expected to start with Allen at safety and Hayden and Carrie at cornerback. Those plans were quickly dashed. Amerson has fared well after getting claimed off waivers from Washington, but the Raiders could be as close to the original plan as they’ve been all season.

That could help the Raiders play better.

“A lot of what happened Sunday was self inflicted," Carrie said. "There are things we can correct if we fix things. Coaches have really focused on playing our brand of football. …That will be helped with Nate, an exceptional player who will benefit the defense with his return.”



