The Las Vegas Raiders have suffered a significant setback as defensive lineman is placed on injured reserve after sustaining a Jones fracture in the team’s loss to the Denver Broncos. Ian Rapoport of NFL Media broke the news. The key player for the Raiders, underwent surgery and is out indefinitely. This means he will miss the upcoming game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Las Vegas.
He had been playing well, recording two sacks and eight tackles over the last three games. In total, he has 17 tackles this season and has been a vital part of the Raiders’ interior defense, complementing Maxx Crosby on the edge. With Wilkins sidelined, the Raiders may rely on 2023 seventh-round pick Nesta Jade Silvera or veteran John Jenkins to fill the void.
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
The Steelers, who have faced teams missing key defensive players in recent weeks, will benefit from Wilkins’ absence as they prepare to avoid a third consecutive loss. Although they lost to the Colts and Cowboys when those teams were missing significant defensive pieces, Pittsburgh will need to focus on stopping Crosby, especially in this critical matchup.
Despite Wilkins’ absence, the Steelers must remain sharp as they attempt to get back on track and avoid falling to .500 on the season.
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