Raiders defense dominates practice despite 2 starters nursing injuries
The Raiders defense had a great day at their second organized team activities practice Wednesday, consistently forcing turnovers and limiting the offense’s success.
And that was without two key pieces of their defensive line.
Defensive end Malcolm Koonce and defensive tackle Christian Wilkins were present for the workout at the Raiders’ Henderson headquarters, but did not participate.
Koonce, who missed all of last season with a torn ACL, spent some of the session in the rehab pool. Wilkins, who suffered a Jones fracture in his foot on Oct. 7 and missed the rest of the year, was on the field for practice without his helmet. He did not take part in drills or full-team work.
“I’m running around a little bit, starting to get back into football,” Koonce said. “I should be (back to practice) soon.”
Difficult recovery
Wilkins’ situation seems more complicated.
The 29-year-old, who signed a four-year, $110 million contract with the Raiders in March 2024, is still recovering from his injury.
“This has been a difficult recovery and he’s done everything he needs to do,” coach Pete Carroll said. “He’s been here every day and he’s been here early working hard. But we’re still working it. He’s not ready to get back out.”
Carroll did not say when Wilkins could be a full participant in practice.
“We’re in the midst of a long, challenging process,” Carroll said. “Fortunately, there’s a lot of time and we’re going to take every bit of it. We’ve really tried to be very diligent about the way we’ve worked it and the way we’ve wanted it and all that. And he’s been on board the whole time.
“But it has been challenging.”
The defensive players that did practice Wednesday were sharp. They intercepted quarterback Geno Smith three times and backup Aidan O’Connell once.
“Today was the defense’s day,” said Carroll, who said the offense got the better of the battle Monday. “The coverage group did a really nice job today. The offense saw some things they hadn’t seen on Monday, so it was a little more difficult for them.”
Carroll’s central coaching principle is competition. So he liked the pushback the defense showed after a tough practice Monday.
“Hopefully it goes back and forth all the time,” Carroll said.
Newcomers shine
Carroll wants his team to develop good habits and said that’s what he’s appreciated with the group’s early workouts so far. Several newcomers are already making a good impression, including free-agent signings Jeremy Chinn at safety, Elandon Roberts at linebacker and Eric Stokes at cornerback.
“We’re trying to instill (a takeaway mentality) and fortunately, we have some guys who really bring it,” Carroll said. “Jeremy Chinn has really shown a lot already in leadership. Elandon Roberts has already given us a real surge in the kind of confidence that he has. Stokes has done a nice job, too. We’re getting a lot of really good, positive things from guys that have been there before and been on some good teams and done some good things.”
Star defensive end Maxx Crosby, who signed a lucrative extension this offseason, is included in that group as well. He’s always tried to win every rep and drill in practice. He believes that’s the path to success in the NFL.
He likes what he’s seeing from his teammates so far.
“We’re constantly emphasizing taking the ball away and we did that,” Crosby said. “By Week 10, Week 12, everyone knows exactly what the hell you like to run. Everyone knows what plays you like and what scheme you’re running. It’s about who’s willing to really sacrifice and go to that length.
“It’s the guys who do it every single day over the course of the year who, by the end of the season and the playoffs, are the ones being put on those pedestals. If you have a team, a collective group of guys constantly pushing themselves to that level, you’re going to have a chance.”
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