HENDERSON, Nev. — Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Malcolm Koonce is out for the season with a knee injury suffered in practice three days before the team's season opener, a team source confirmed Friday night.
Koonce, who was coming off a career-high eight sacks and three forced fumbles in 2023 and was entering a contract year, was placed on injured reserve on Sept. 8. Charles Snowden started the team’s first two games in place of Koonce opposite three-time Pro Bowl edge rusher Maxx Crosby.
After second-year defensive end Tyree Wilson suffered a knee injury in the season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers and missed Week 2 against the Baltimore Ravens, Las Vegas signed former first-round draft pick K'Lavon Chaisson to the practice squad. Chaisson was promoted to the 53-man roster and played against the Ravens before being returned to the practice squad, though he could be promoted again.
Wilson, the seventh overall pick in the 2023 draft, will return to play in the Raiders' home opener against the Carolina Panthers at Allegiant Stadium this weekend, Raiders coach Antonio Pierce said.
Koonce, 26, was seen wearing a sleeve on his right knee the day before his non-contact injury.
Crosby has all three of the Raiders’ sacks in the first two games and is the reigning AFC Defensive Player of the Week after racking up six tackles, including four for loss, with two sacks and a pass deflection while playing every defensive snap of the Raiders’ 26-23 win at Baltimore. However, he suffered an injury to his left ankle on the game’s penultimate play and is officially questionable to play against the Panthers after practicing on a limited basis this week.
NFL reporter Jordan Schultz was the first to report that Koonce would be out for the remainder of the season.
