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New Raiders Edge Rusher Leaves Practice Due To Injury
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- New Raiders Edge Rusher Leaves Practice Due To Injury
New Raiders Edge Rusher Leaves Practice Due To Injury
(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect)
The Las Vegas Raiders spent a lot of money in free agency to shore up their linebacking crew and pass rush, but their plans took an early minor hit when edge rusher Kwity Paye leaving practice due to what seemed to be a minor injury, according to a report from Ryan McFadden of ESPN.
Paye left practice during individual drill period, according to the writer, and he was accompanied by a Raiders trainer as he walked back into the training facility, with Malcolm Koonce replacing him as edge rusher for the rest of practice.
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Coach Klint Kubiak indicated that the injury isn't serious and said he'll be okay, although the nature of what happened remained undisclosed.
"We're trying to be smart this time. Guys get little [injuries]. We want to make sure we get them to those full padded days," Kubiak said.
Koonce filled in well, according to the report, as he had a would-be sack on quarterback Kirk Cousins near the end of practice. Rookie edge rusher Cian Slone also got to fill in at the position. McFadden added that attendance was strong, with only backup tight end Carter Runyon and Chris Collier as the only players who were missing.
Offensively, the Raiders dove into some red-zone work, which makes sense given their struggles in that area last season. Cousins connected with tight end Brock Bowers for a pair of touchdowns, which could be a harbinger of things to come, and Mendoza showed off his specialty in college, completing a back-shoulder throw to Malik Benson in the end zone.
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The defense came out on top in the second to last part of team drills, which also makes sense given that the offensive line is undergoing a major overhaul and the receiving group is considered weak.
Cornerback Darien Porter made a couple of nice plays, McFadden noted, as he faces competition from Hezekiah Masse to keep his starting job, and Porter's tipped pass allowed cornerback Taron Johnson to make an interception.
Kubiak also noted that 90 percent of the players currently in camp don't have locked in roster roles, which is almost certainly accurate given all the changes that are being made. Johnson is another versatile player who could have multiple roles with the Raiders, as he's played in the slot and at saftey, and the erstwhile cornerback had 67 career snaps at safety in 113 career games with the Bills.
