If Darius Robinson was on a snap count for his first NFL game, it didn't look that way in the box score.
The defensive lineman played 22 snaps (out of 53) in his debut, only 10 fewer than unit leader L.J. Collier by game's end. Robinson's workload does figure to increase as time goes by -- as does his production.
"I was just thinking about doing my job at a high level and helping my teammates," Robinson said in the locker room at Minnesota on Sunday. "Unfortunately we lost and I didn't do enough to help us win."
After Collier, Dante Stills played 31 snaps, Roy Lopez at 29, then Robinson and Naquan Jones at 19 for the guys up front. At outside linebacker, Zaven Collins led with 30, followed by Baron Browning (22), Jesse Luketa (20), and Victor Dimukeje (18). Xavier Thomas played only five snaps.
At inside linebacker, Kyzir White was the lone defender who played all 53 snaps. Mack Wilson Sr., who had arguably his best game of the season, was in for 50 (playing 32 in the box, 13 as an OLB and 5 as a slot corner with his season-high percentage of work.) Krys Barnes (1) and Owen Pappoe (no defensive snaps) were not in the mix.
In the secondary, Jalen Thompson made his return to play 52 snaps, same as fellow safety Budda Baker, with Dadrion Taylor-Demerson's defensive snap count shrinking to three with Thompson's availability. Starling Thomas V led the cornerbacks with 41 snaps, given that Sean Murphy-Bunting (39) briefly left the game with an injury issue before returning. Garrett Williams played 37 snaps and Max Melton 26.
On offense, tight end Trey McBride was in for 77 for 82 snaps, with Tip Reiman at 34 and Elijah Higgins at 25. At wide receiver, Marvin Harrison Jr. was in for 72 snaps, followed by Michael Wilson (67), Zay Jones (32), and Greg Dortch (19).
At running back, James Conner had 48, Emari Demercado 22 and Trey Benson 13. The offensive line had only one disruption of the 100-percent club; Trystan Colon played 67 snaps at right guard with Isaiah Adams filling in for 15.
