With 'Lights' out, Chargers go to candlelight

By: LOREN NELSON - Staff Writer | Tuesday, January 1, 2008 1:09 PM PST ∞

Oakland Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell, right, is sacked by San Diego Chargers' Jyles Tucker (94) and fumbles the ball, which Tucker recovered, in the end zone for a touchdown in the third quarter of an NFL football game, Sunday in Oakland.
Associated Press

OAKLAND ---- Teammates were having great fun with Jyles Tucker in the Chargers' locker room on Sunday, calling him mini-light, night light, flashlight and candlelight. Those impromptu nicknames were derived from infinitely more famous teammate and fellow linebacker Shawne Merriman's "Lights Out" moniker.

Jyles Tucker? Who?

You know, Jyles Tucker, special teamer and third-string linebacker. The undrafted rookie out of that football factory Wake Forest.

Tucker had a career play en route to a career day in the Chargers' 30-17 thumping of the Oakland Raiders.

In one blur of motion, Tucker sacked Raiders quarterback JaMarcus Russell, forced Russell to fumble, and then pounced on the loose ball in the end zone for a touchdown.

A linebacker's version of a hockey hat trick.

"My eyes lit up," Tucker said about seeing the loose ball that eluded Raiders offensive lineman Barry Sims. "I said to myself, 'Go get it.' "

The touchdown with 7 minutes, 12 seconds left in the third quarter put the Chargers ahead 24-10.

That wasn't all for Tucker. Oh, no. He finished with three sacks and almost had a fourth in the final quarter, as he was inches from dropping Russell before the rookie quarterback heaved the ball away at the last second.

"I've never had a (game like that) before," said Tucker, who had just four tackles all season before Sunday. "That was fun."

Tucker said the last time he scored a touchdown was when he was a freshman at Wake Forest. He said he stripped the ball from Charlie Whitehurst, the Chargers' third string quarterback who was playing for Clemson at the time, and returned it for a touchdown.

"I remind him of that play every time (Wake Forest and Clemson) play each other," Tucker said.

Tucker's big day showcased the depth of a Chargers defense that sat many of its starters ---- Merriman included ---- for much of the game.

"He's a guy with a bunch of talent," said Merriman, the only other Chargers player to register a sack. "I feel like a proud big brother from working him every day and seeing the things he's capable of doing and going out there and executing."

Tucker had been on the Chargers' practice squad before playing his first career game on Nov. 25 against Baltimore. He shared a sack with Shaun Phillips during garbage time of a Dec. 2 win in Kansas City.

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Pre-Registration Comments[-]Go to Top

Tennesse Trallop wrote on Dec 31, 2007 3:31 AM:Have your D game ready charger fans
you don't know what loud is!!!

jamadeacs wrote on Dec 31, 2007 7:55 AM:Very Proud of of Jyles Tucker! All the Deacon fans know how good a player he is and this only confirms that that he should have been drafted. If the chargers don't make room for him as a starter next year, I am sure some other team will be happy to pick him up and plug him in. There is a lot more plays to come from Jyles!

Markus wrote on Dec 31, 2007 11:02 AM:Dem Tennesse boys gunna come in hear and make sum kinda racket now, wid allll them fiddles

James wrote on Dec 31, 2007 12:39 PM:Tennesse/West Virginia...same difference...DEIVERANCE! Squeal like a pig Titan Boy!

Karl wrote on Dec 31, 2007 1:12 PM:Nice James. Squeal>\.

James wrote on Dec 31, 2007 4:44 PM:No problem Karl....SUUUUUUUeeeeeeyyyyy!

You think Ned Beatty is a Titans' fan? I smell Tennessee pork!

John wrote on Dec 31, 2007 5:17 PM:"My eyes lit up," Russell said about seeing the loose ball that eluded Raiders offensive lineman Barry Sims. "I said to myself, 'Go get it.' " I think you mean Tucker, not Russell (The one who lost the fumble).

deaconJim wrote on Dec 31, 2007 9:27 PM:I saw Jyles make the play against Clemson and Whitehurse. Love to see Demon Deacons in the pros make plays. Glad San Diego has a Deacon commitment. Go Tucker, Gaddis, and hometown punter Plackemeier.

#1BOLT wrote on Dec 31, 2007 11:01 PM:HEY TITAN BOY,
HOPE YOULL BE AT THE GAME SUNDAY SO U CAN HEAR HOW LOUD 70,000 CHARGER FANS REALLY ARE HOPE U HAVE A NICE TV TO WATCH THE REST OF THE PLAYOFFS AFTER WE SLAUGHTER UR GROUP OF BOYS

Northernmost Bolthead wrote on Jan 1, 2008 6:49 AM:This is a FREE MOVIE COUPON to a football classic starring Denzel Washington, it's called....
DISMEMBER THE TITANS.

Boo yah!

Natoma56 wrote on Jan 1, 2008 6:59 AM:We better get McNeil to make an adjustment or its going to be a long day for #17.That DE had a career day.

Sports editor Loren Nelson wrote on Jan 1, 2008 1:57 PM:Hey, John, thanks for spotting my Russell/Tucker mistake. Tucker's 15-minutes of fame and I blow his name ---- for shame. Fixed.

alan wrote on Jan 6, 2008 11:54 PM:good game Jyles!!! you make all of us proud from the days of middle school school yard football.

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