Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Malcolm Koonce will undergo season-ending knee surgery next week, according to a league source. Koonce suffered the injury during practice ahead of the Raiders’ Week 1 matchup with the Los Angeles Chargers.
Koonce was subsequently placed on injured reserve, but there remained optimism that he could return at some point during the regular season. After further evaluation, however, it was determined that surgery was the best course of action for his long-term health.
The Raiders had high expectations for Koonce this season after he had a breakout season with 43 tackles, eight sacks and nine tackles for loss in 2023. The former third-round pick is in the final season of his rookie deal and could’ve been in line for a major payday if he had a repeat performance in 2024.
Instead of making that happen, Koonce now has to shift his full focus to recovery. He’ll be an unrestricted free agent this offseason, so he’ll have the opportunity to either re-sign with the Raiders or head elsewhere.
In the meantime, the Raiders will need fellow defensive end Tyree Wilson, their 2023 first-round pick, to step up in a major way. Wilson struggled as a rookie and was set to be a backup this year before Koonce went down.
Wilson suffered a knee injury of his own in Week 1 and was sidelined for Week 2, but he’s expected to make his return to action in Week 3 against the Carolina Panthers. As great as defensive end Maxx Crosby and defensive tackle Christian Wilkins are, they’ll need more out of Wilson to fill Koonce’s shoes and have the pass rush they expected this year.
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