Breaking: Malcolm Koonce is placed on injured reserve by the Raiders.
The Los Vegas Raiders’ season-opening match against the Los Angeles Chargers at SoFi Stadium on Sunday (1:05 p.m. PT Kickoff) was supposed to feature a mostly healthy roster, but that was altered on Thursday afternoon.
Due to a knee injury he suffered during practice on Thursday, starting defensive end Malcolm Koonce will not be playing for Las Vegas, according to coach Antonio Pierce’s announcement on Friday.
How long Koonce will be out is unknown. Talk has it that the Raiders are being careful, particularly in light of the SoFi turf’s history of causing knee problems.
coverage of the Los Angeles Chargers game in advance
In front of Las Vegas’ top pass-rusher Maxx Crosby, Janarius Robinson, or 2023 first-round pick Tyree Wilson will get the start in front of the Chargers’ formidable defensive line. The Raiders’ decision to start defensive end Charles Snowden from the practice squad would not come as a surprise, as Wilson and Robison are the sole backups to Crosby and Koonce.
Despite their lack of NFL experience, Pierce voiced faith in both Robinson and Wilson. Koonce has grown to be a vital component of the Raiders’ defense.
Eight of the player’s ten career sacks came last season. The fourth-year player, who is a free agent following the season, might be in line for a contract extension. He played his entire final season in the closing games, where he was an absolute menace on the field.
The Raiders announced their injury report on Friday afternoon. In addition to Koonce, two rookies will not be playing on Sunday: lineman Jackson Johnson-Powers, a second-round choice, who is unwell, and cornerback Decamerion Richardson, a fourth-round pick, who has a hamstring issue. In the game, both of them were anticipated to be backups.
The Raiders’ limited depth at cornerback is suffering more with Richardson out of the lineup. Tight end Brock Bowers, a first-round selection, is not listed as injured and is expected to play. He was nursing a foot ailment. Sam Webb or MJ Devonshire could be promoted from the practice squad.
coverage of the Los Angeles Chargers game in advance
The Los Angeles Chargers and the Las Vegas Raiders will square off in the 2024 regular season on Sunday at SoFi Stadium. Here’s some Chargers-related information.
The game, which kicks off at 1:05 p.m. PT, will be shown nationally on television and will mark Jim Harbaugh’s first game as the Chargers’ coach. Harbaugh, who spent the previous nine seasons at Michigan, where he won the National Championship in January, will be playing in his first NFL game since leaving the San Francisco 49ers after the 2014 season.
It was a memorable experience. Last December, the Raiders crushed the Chargers 63-21 on a Thursday night at Allegiant Stadium. Tom Telesco’s tenure as the team’s general manager came to an end with the game; the following day, he and Chargers head coach Brandon Staley were dismissed. Obviously, the following month. Telesco joined the Raiders as general manager after playing for the Chargers for 11 seasons.