As the Las Vegas Raiders continue OTAs under the desert sun, the health of three key defenders—Maxx Crosby, Christian Wilkins, and Malcolm Koonce—is shaping the early narrative of their offseason. According to The Athletic‘s Tashan Reed, the trio finds themselves at vastly different stages of their respective recoveries, a dynamic that could significantly impact the defensive unit heading into training camp.
Las Vegas Raiders Defensive Trio in Different Stages of Recovery, Reed Reports
Crosby: Back to Full Strength and Hungry
Edge rusher Maxx Crosby is the furthest along in his recovery. After playing through a painful high ankle sprain last season, Crosby underwent tightrope surgery and embarked on a relentless five-month rehab. The result? A clean bill of health and a renewed fire.
“I didn’t have an offseason,” Crosby said. “It’s been five months of hardcore training and rehabbing every single day.”
Crosby acknowledged the toll last season took—physically and emotionally—stating he often felt like he was playing “on a popped tire.” But now, he’s back to full participation in practice, a welcome development for a defense looking to build on flashes of promise from 2024.
“That energy is contagious,” Crosby said. “In football, you can have all the X’s and O’s and you can be the smartest guy on the planet, but when it really comes down to it and it’s really nut-cutting time, it’s truly (about) who’s going to execute and who’s willing to go further. … (We have) guys that are constantly pushing themselves to that level, not just offensively but defensively, too. … If you have a bunch of dawgs on the field that are willing to go to the farthest lengths to win, you’re going to have a chance.”
Wilkins: Grinding Through a Grueling Rehab
The situation is more uncertain for Christian Wilkins, the high-profile free-agent acquisition who suffered a Jones fracture in his left foot last October. While Wilkins was present at practice, he did not participate in drills and remained limited during warmups. His recovery has included multiple stints in a walking boot, and as head coach Pete Carroll admitted, progress has been slow.
“This has been a difficult recovery,” Carroll said. “He’s done everything he needs to do … but we’re still working on it.”
There’s no definitive timetable for Wilkins’ return to full speed, though his presence and work ethic have earned praise.
Koonce: Rehab Nearing the Finish Line
Defensive end Malcolm Koonce, recovering from a torn ACL suffered in September, was absent from practice but expressed optimism about his progress.
“I should be good soon,” Koonce said, adding that the recovery process has tested him mentally and emotionally as much as physically.
With Crosby surging, Koonce nearing a return, and Wilkins fighting through a challenging rehab, the Raiders’ defensive front remains a work in progress—but one with a potentially high ceiling.