Tag: Malcolm Koonce injury

Raiders vs Chargers final Week 1 injury report: Malcolm Koonce, Jackson Powers-Johnson both OUT

Malcolm Koonce, Jackson Powers-Johnson both OUT for Raiders vs Chargers

The final injury report for the Raiders and Chargers is out and as expected, Malcolm Koonce (knee) is OUT. But he isn’t the only one. He will be joined by rookie guard Jackson Powers-Johnson (illness) and rookie fourth round CB DeCamerion Richardson (hamstring).

https://twitter.com/LeviDamien/status/1832169943477129399

Rookie fifth round pick Tommy Eichenberg (knee) is officially Questionable for the Raiders.

The Chargers will be without starting receiver DJ Chark for the game. Which means the starting receivers will be Quentin Johnston and Josh Palmer.

They also have a couple cornerbacks who are questionable, including starter Asante Samuel who was limited Friday with a shoulder injury.

Breaking: Raiders lose DE Malcolm Koonce to knee injury, will miss season opener vs Chargers

DE Malcolm Koonce suffered a knee injury in practice this week and will miss season opener vs Chargers

Thursday, Raiders edge rusher Malcolm Koonce left practice with a knee injury. And Friday head coach Antonio Pierce announced Koonce will miss Sunday’s game in Los Angeles against the Chargers.

Koonce came on strong late last season with eight sacks in nine games as the starting edge rusher opposite Maxx Crosby. Now the Raiders will look to one of the team’s reserve edge rushers to fill in at the last minute.

“When one guy’s (down), next man up mentality,” said Pierce. “The thing about it, Tyree Wilson, JRob [Janarius Robinson], those guys have had a lot of opportunities to play and we expect them to step up and play well.”

This is a significant loss for the Raiders. He and Crosby had formed a significant duo last season and were the primary factors in this Raiders defense stepping up and being among the best in the NFL over the latter half of the season.

Wilson was selected with the seventh overall pick in last year’s draft and has largely been a disappointment so far. They would certainly like it if he could start living up to that, but there’s been no indication he will. Janarius Robinson has looked much better, including dominating preseason play this year. Question is if it will translate when facing a starting offensive unit.