Raiders defense: A solid look at Tyree Wilson

Final 3 games ideal opportunity for 2nd-year defensive end to showcase growth, production

While K’Lavon Chaisson’s resurgence and the revenge game-billing may be top billing as the Las Vegas Raiders defense readies for the incoming Jacksonville Jaguars, the Sunday afternoon matchup and the other final two games of the year provide ample opportunity for fellow defensive end Tyree Wilson.

It’s a silver lining opportunity for the second-year pass rusher to showcase continued growth and, more importantly, production as the Raiders round the corner on a disheartening 2024 campaign.

In his second season in Silver & Black, Wilson has played in 13 games with a trio of starts and has 22 total tackles (14 solo, eight assists) to go along with six tackles for loss, seven quarterback hits, and four sacks. Those numbers, particularly sacks and tackles for loss put him second and fourth on the team in those two categories.

While Wilson has two games where he played and didn’t get a single notch in the stat sheet (the season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers and against the Kansas City Chiefs in Week 14), the 24-year-old’s production thus far is on pace to better his rookie year where he had 29 total tackles, two tackles for loss, eight quarterback hits and 3.5 sacks. The 6-foot-6 and 275-pound No. 7 overall pick in the 2023 NFL Draft is still every bit raw coming out of Texas A&M but there are glimpses of what he can become this season.

With depth at the defensive end spot depleted due to injury — star Maxx Crosby hit injured reserve this week due to an ankle injury that’s since been operated on — and off-field issues — Janarius Robinson was placed on the reserve/suspended by commissioner list, Charles Snowden was arrested on misdemeanor driving under the influence charge las week — Wilson has an opportunity to make noise alongside Chaisson.

To help bolster the lack of depth at edge, the Raiders also signed Andre Carter II to the active roster from the Minnesota Vikings practice squad and Ovie Oghoufo to the taxi squad.

Before Crosby went out and Snowden got snagged for a DUI, Wilson had been a rotational-type at the defensive end position. His snap counts were split with Snowden for the most part and without either Crosby or Snowden playing in the Monday night loss to Atlanta, Wilson’s snap count surged to 42 snaps which was 72 percent of the defense’s total snaps of 58. He racked up four total tackles and a sack in the losing effort.

The incoming Jaguars may boast the 26th-ranked offense in points scored (263) and yards gained (4,284), but the team’s passing game is allowing the seventh least amount of sacks in the league (27). Former starter Trevor Lawrence (placed on IR back on Dec. 4) absorbed 18 of that total while new starter Mac Jones accounts for nine.

This makes both Wilson and Chaisson being on point in their pass rush reps imperative as Jacksonville did protect Lawrence better (along with the quarterback’s mobility making him elusive). Jones isn’t the same caliber of mover and was dropped twice in the Jaguars’ loss to the New York Jets last week.

Where Jacksonville is likeliest to attack Las Vegas is via ground game.

While the Raiders defense yields plenty of points (376 total for 27th in the league), the group is ranked 12th in yards allowed and is allowing the ninth-least amount of yardage in the passing game (2,916). Where they’ve been more susceptible is the rushing yards (1,697 given up, 17th most) and expect the Jaguars to use the combo of running backs Tank Bigsby and Travis Etienne in a thunder-and-lightning-type committee. Bigsby leads Jacksonville with 644 yards and five touchdowns on 131 carries. Etienne, meanwhile, has 456 yards and two scores on 113 carries.

If Jacksonville attempts to establish the run, it’ll be up to Wilson to use his size and length to set the tone as an edge defender on the defensive line to stymie the Jaguars’ intentions. As seen from the clip above, Wilson has the functional strength to drive offensive linemen backwards and the arm length to force the issue.

Series History: The Raiders and Jaguars have met 10 times and it’s Jacksonville that leads the all-time series 6-4. The last time the two teams met during the 2022 season, the Jaguars erased a 17-0 deficit to win 27-20. The matchup that preceded that one was the infamous 20-16 win by Jacksonville in the last-ever Raiders game in Oakland. In fact, the Oakland variant of the Silver & Black was riding a three-game win streak before losing the last two matchups between the two squads. The longest streak of the series is the Jaguars four-game victory march from 1997 to 2010 (the two met in 1997, 2005, 2007, 2010).

Quote of Note:

“Well, obviously, it’s personal for him. It’s the team that drafted him and let him go. But I’m just talking about KC (K’Lavon Chaisson) the player for us. I mean, I think he’s done an outstanding job since he’s gotten here, bought into what we want to do. Robbie Leonard and Andre (Carter) have done a good job of kind of just fitting him in. And I know over the last month, he’s been kind of wrecking havoc. In the passing game, has an interception, obviously, getting after the quarterback, but then in the running game, with all the injuries, he’s been a bright spot for us. Somebody that obviously has tier one traits as a first-round pick, but I think he’s kind of found his home here, and we’re happy to have him on our side.” —Las Vegas Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce on what he’s seen from defensive end K’Lavon Chaisson as he preps for the team that drafted him