Raiders pass rusher Malcolm Koonce out against Chargers with knee injury – NFL

Photo: The Canadian Press

HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Raiders defensive end Malcolm Koonce will not play Sunday at the Los Angeles Chargers because of a knee injury, costing Las Vegas one of its best pass rushers in the season opener.

Koonce's absence means more opportunities for Janarius Robinson and Tyree Wilson.

Robinson, selected in the fourth round of the 2021 NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings, is ranked behind Koonce. He played in six games last season, starting two of them, totaling eight tackles and one sack.

Wilson, the Raiders' No. 7 pick last year, is looking to rebound from a disappointing rookie season that started slowly because of a foot injury at Texas Tech. He played in all 17 games but didn't start any and finished the season with 29 tackles and 3 1/2 sacks.

“Tyree Wilson and J-Rob, those guys have had a lot of opportunities to play,” Raiders coach Antonio Pierce said Friday. “We expect them to step up and play well.”

Koonce played particularly well in the second half of last season, recording all eight sacks that were his career high starting on Nov. 5 against the New York Giants. Six of his sacks came in the final four games.

If the injury is serious, the timing is particularly bad for Koonce, who is in the final year of a four-year contract. Pierce said Koonce was injured during practice on Thursday.

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