Henderson, Nevada A team source verified on Friday night that Malcolm Koonce, a defensive end for the Las Vegas Raiders, is sidelined for the entire season as a result of a knee injury he sustained during practice three days prior to the team’s season opener. Recalling a career-high eight sacks and three forced fumbles in 2023, Koonce was placed on injured reserve on September 8th, the first day of his contract year. Starting opposite three-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Maxx Crosby in Koonce’s place during the team’s opening two games was Charles Snowden.
Due to a knee injury sustained by second-year defensive end Tyree Wilson during the Los Angeles Chargers game in Week 1, which prevented him from playing against the Baltimore Ravens in Week 2, Las Vegas signed former first-round draft pick K’Lavon Chaisson to the practice squad. After being added to the 53-man roster and starting against the Ravens, Chaisson was placed back on the practice squad, though he may be added to it once more. This weekend at Allegiant Stadium, the Raiders will play their home opener against the Carolina Panthers, with Wilson, the seventh overall choice in the 2023 draft, making a comeback, according to Raiders coach Antonio Pierce. The day before his noncontact injury, Koonce, 26, was spotted with a sleeve on his right knee.
Playing every defensive snap in the Raiders’ 26-23 victory over Baltimore, Crosby has all three of the sacks the Raiders have had through the first two games and is the current AFC Defensive Player of the Week. He has racked up six tackles, including four for loss, with two sacks and a pass deflection. Despite training in a limited capacity this week, he is officially questionable to play against the Panthers due to an injury to his left ankle sustained on the game’s second-to-last play. The first person to report that Koonce was out for the season was NFL reporter Jordan Schultz.
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