The Raiders got some bad news to start the season when it was announced that breakout pass rusher Malcolm Koonce would miss at least the first four games of the season after being placed on injured reserve the day before the season opener. Today, that news just got a lot worse as Jordan Schultz of Bleacher Report breaks that Koonce a serious knee injury suffered in a recent practice will in fact end his 2024 campaign. 
The team had been holding out hope that Koonce would be able to make a return at some point in the season if the injury wasn’t too severe, per Schultz. After weighing several options, though, it was determined that a surgery was necessary, one that would end Koonce’s 2024 season.
A former third-round pick for Las Vegas out of Buffalo, Koonce spent all but five games of his rookie season sitting out with injury. Despite not making his NFL debut until Week 13 and although he only played seven snaps, Koonce delivered a sack in his first game of professional football. He would repeat the feat a week later, while only playing 15 snaps. Those 15 defensive snaps were the most action he’d see in his first two years as he spent most of his sophomore campaign on special teams.
After the depth chart cleared out a bit with the departures of Chandler Jones and Clelin Ferrell, Koonce was finally able to get ample snaps on defense last year, starting 11 games. Making the most of his time, Koonce delivered a breakout season, tallying career highs in total tackles (43), sacks (8.0), tackles for loss (9), quarterback hits (17), and forced fumbles (3). With Koonce heading into the final year of his rookie deal with plenty to prove, the Raiders were excited to have Koonce as a productive pass rusher across from defensive star Maxx Crosby this season.
This news is obviously toughest on Koonce, who, after two years, had finally distanced himself from an injury-plagued rookie season. The fourth-year defender was likely looking forward to putting forth another career year in a contract year, setting himself up for a big payday via extension or free agency. Instead, teams will have to speculate off of the 2023 season (his freshest work), and any deals he signs will likely be heavily dependent on a physical.
Another member of the 2021 NFL Draft class, Janarius Robinson has stepped up in Koonce’s absence so far this season. Robinson hasn’t registered a stat in the first few weeks of the season, but Las Vegas doesn’t have much choice but to stick with him as they work to find someone to work across from Crosby. Former first-round pick Tyree Wilson suffered a knee sprain in the team’s season opener and missed last week’s win over the Ravens as a result.
With Wilson and Koonce out, the team signed Charles Snowden from the practice squad to the active roster and filled his spot on the taxi squad with another former first-round pick in K’Lavon Chaisson. The team was already seeking options to add more pass rushers, but with the Koonce news today, they’ll be even more pressed to make a move.