Tyree Wilson was on the active roster for the Las Vegas Raiders home opener against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Wilson may have been present at the game, but you might have had trouble spotting him on the field. The rookie defensive end logged only 11 snaps and didn’t add anything to the box score in the team’s disappointing 23-18 loss. The Raiders fell to 0-3 and could have used a spark from the first-round pass rusher.
With the team now setting its sights on the Los Angeles Chargers, can Wilson finally break through? One thing working in Wilson’s favor is that the Raiders’ divisional rival is riddled by injuries.
Malcolm Koonce Gets The Keys For Vegas
In Week 2 against the Buffalo Bills, Tyree Wilson participated in 49 percent of the defensive snaps, with 38 total. In that contest, fellow defensive end Malcolm Koonce was involved in 35 percent of the snaps, with 27 overall. The Raiders coaching staff understandably wasn’t impressed with Wilson’s performance.
In Week 3, Wilson essentially got replaced by Koonce. The third-rounder out of Buffalo logged the second-highest snap count as a defensive end. Koonce played in 40 percent of the defensive snaps (25 total). Wilson, by comparison, participated in only 11 plays, with an on-field percentage of 18 percent.
This dramatic decrease in usage would lead us to believe what our eyes tell us — Tyree Wilson is not ready yet for a starting role. The Raiders are trying to win now, and Wilson cannot take up more snaps that perhaps are not overly productive. It is also possible that Wilson had not yet recovered from the illness he was dealing with early in the week.
Tyree Wilson Must Make His Snaps Count vs. Chargers
If Wilson is going to see fewer snaps, it is imperative that he make them count when he is given the opportunity. With 11 snaps being such a small portion of the defensive plays, Wilson should theoretically be rested. Presumably, he should appear less winded than he did against Denver in Week 1, thus giving the Texas Tech alum a better chance to make impactful plays.
Wilson failed to log a single tackle or assisted tackle and has yet to record a TFL (tackle for loss) or sack in the NFL. The Raiders premier defensive end, Maxx Crosby, leads the league in pressures with 19. Koonce has five pressures this season with a QB hit, per Pro Football Focus. Wilson’s get-off is still a work in progress. One positive is that he looks less sluggish than in Week 1. However, with Crosby constantly facing double teams, it is up to Koonce or Wilson to take the pressure off him. Currently, the Raiders appear to have more faith in Koonce.
Wilson And The Raiders Hope To Shock The Bolts
On the subject of making every snap count, the Raiders face an AFC West rival on Sunday — the Los Angeles Chargers. The Bolts are coming off their first win of the season and are tied with the Raiders for second in the AFC West. The Raiders are meeting the Chargers at SoFi Stadium, which, as we know, is another Silver and Black home game. The energy of the stadium should bend towards the swath of Vegas fans in attendance.
If Wilson is healthier this week, there may be an increase in snaps. That also leads to additional chances to view his progress, if any. Wilson usually lines up as a defensive end on the left tackle as a five tech (outside shoulder of the tackle). Against the Chargers, that would set Wilson up for constant action versus left tackle Rashawn Slater. Slater has yet to give up a sack and was PFF’s ninth-ranked offensive tackle heading into the 2023 season.
Raiders fans are anxiously awaiting a return on the team’s first-round investment. It is hard to ignore Wilson’s fellow Day 1 prospect, Jalen Carter, as he looks like a dominant force for the Philadelphia Eagles. Carter has been a wrecking ball weekly and even worse, he was available when the Raiders selected Wilson. Hopefully, Tyree Wilson can “bolt up” in Los Angeles on Sunday afternoon. That would help the fan base forget about Carter — at least for a while.
*Top Photo: Justin K. Aller/Getty Images