The Las Vegas Raiders organization have been in for a tough couple of days. Coming off a humbling 18-34 loss to division rivals, the Denver Broncos, the Raiders are considering a quarterback change and are in the midst of a trade saga with wide receiver, Davante Adams.
The one thing that Las Vegas have mostly steered clear of up until this point are season-altering injuries to major players.
Emphasis on “up until this point”.
On Sunday, it turns out that star defensive tackle and major free agent acquisition, Christian Wilkins, suffered a Jones fracture; a particularly nasty foot injury that often features delayed healing or nonunion (where the fracture never fully heals on its own), per Ian Rapoport.
Sources: #Raiders star DT Christian Wilkins is out indefinitely after undergoing surgery to repair a Jones Fracture he suffered on Sunday.
Wilkins, Las Vegas’ big-money free agent acquisition, being out is a crushing blow in the middle of that defense. He’ll head to IR. pic.twitter.com/LdcTti9mqG
— Ian Rapoport (@RapSheet) October 8, 2024
Christian Wilkins Out For The Forseable Future Post Surgery
As Rapaport notes, Wilkins had surgery on the foot, presumably to avoid the risk of the aforementioned nonunion, and as a result could well miss the rest of the season, particularly given the Raiders likely shaky-at-best odds to make the playoffs.
Wilkins’ addition was supposed to usher in a new era of defensive line dominance in Vegas, where he alongside All-Pro, Maxx Crosby; impressive 4th year end, Malcom Koonce; and former top 10 pick, Tyree Wilson, were set for a breakout year in terrorizing AFC offensive lines.
Sadly, even prior to Wilkins’ unfortunate injury news, the Raiders were not showing much life on the D Line, producing the 9th fewest sacks in the NFL through 5 weeks. And now with no Wilkins, and Koonce out for the rest of the season, it seems like what was once viewed as the strength of the middle-of-the-pack franchise may end up being a weak link.
Raiders Fans Devastated By Huge Injury Blow
THIS Christian Wilkins injury SUCKS!
Watch: https://t.co/XJ6ZEFTmdL 📺#RaiderNation @ChatSports pic.twitter.com/Quc5GfCQ53
— Raiders Report Mitchell Renz (@MitchellRenz365) October 8, 2024
Damn, tough break for Christian Wilkins https://t.co/luJ0ZYefxu
— Bobby Shouse (@B_Shousejr) October 8, 2024
BREAKING NEWS‼️🚨:#Raiders Star DT Christian Wilkins is OUT indefinitely after undergoing surgery to repair a Jones Fracture he suffered vs the Broncos, per @RapSheet
MASSIVE loss for the Raiders pic.twitter.com/SzebAEPaRq
— Roundtable Sports (@RoundtableSN) October 8, 2024
You gotta be kidding me?
Just tank already, get Shedeur Sanders at
NUMBER 1
— NFLComedySkits (@NFLComedySkits) October 8, 2024
Got hurt on a celebration by being tackled by his own teammate, can’t make this stuff up for raiders 2024 season
— Corey Sanford (@RaiderCorey) October 8, 2024
The fact that the injury also occurred during a sack celebration predictably did not reassure fans in Las Vegas, many of whom believe the season is a lost cause.
Whether it is or not we shall see, but it seems like at this point it will certainly be an uphill battle for the Raiders to get into and stay within considerable contention in a slightly diminished but still competitive AFC conference.
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