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.