The Las Vegas Raiders received a tough blow heading into the 2024 season with the news that defensive end Malcolm Koonce has suffered a knee injury during practice. As of September 7, Koonce has been placed on Injured Reserve, meaning he will miss at least the first four weeks of the season—and potentially longer.
This isn’t a minor setback for the Raiders. Koonce was slated to be one of the team’s starting defensive ends following a breakout 2023 campaign in which he recorded 8.0 sacks. Entering a contract year, Koonce had a lot riding on this season, but sources have indicated to ESPN’s Paul Gutierrez that the injury could be season-ending.
For Koonce, this injury could not have come at a worse time. After his best year in the NFL, he was poised for a big payday in the offseason if he could replicate his success. Now, the Raiders may look to bring him back on a one-year deal next year so he can rebuild his value.
The Raiders will have to adjust quickly to replace Koonce’s production. Fortunately, Las Vegas had depth at defensive end, which allowed them to promote Charles Snowden from the practice squad to the active roster. Snowden, who joined the NFL in 2021 as an undrafted free agent with the Chicago Bears, spent time with the Raiders last season but didn’t play in any regular-season games. Despite his limited NFL experience, Snowden showed flashes during the preseason and even recorded a sack.
Snowden’s promotion gives the Raiders another body in the rotation, but the expectation is that 2023 first-round pick Tyree Wilson will see significant snaps in Koonce’s absence. However, there’s another player to keep an eye on—Janarius Robinson.
Robinson, a former fourth-round pick of the Minnesota Vikings, impressed the Raiders throughout training camp and earned a spot on the active roster. He spent most of last season on the practice squad but has been preparing for an opportunity like this.
While Robinson is saddened by Koonce’s injury, he’s ready to take on a larger role. “It’s always tough to see a brother, a teammate of yours, go down,” Robinson said, per Gutierrez. “But we all prepare every day … just in case something happens. And, unfortunately, this is what happened.”
Robinson, who is still only 25, will have a chance to prove himself and could be a key factor for the Raiders’ defense. He notched a sack last season and is viewed as a player with potential. Now, with Koonce on the sidelines, Robinson will be counted on to step up alongside Wilson as the Raiders try to fill the void left by their injured starter.
The pressure will be on the Raiders’ defense as they enter Week 1, hoping to weather the loss of a key contributor like Koonce and maintain their defensive integrity.
