The Raiders have been dealt a significant blow throughout Sunday’s loss. Security Marcus Epps suffered an ACL tear, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reported on Monday.
Epps was a part of the Raiders’ efforts to rebuild within the secondary final offseason. He inked a two-year deal as a free agent price $12M. That pact included $8M in guarantees, and it proved to be a worthwhile funding from the workforce’s perspective final 12 months. The 28-year served as a full-time starter, amassing 66 tackles and three move breakups. Comparable play was anticipated of him in 2024, however his consideration will as an alternative flip to restoration.
As Pelissero famous, Epps’ knee is in any other case intact, which is a optimistic signal relating to his long-term outlook. In the interim, although, the Raiders will likely be shorthanded on the security spot. The Wyoming product logged greater than 1,000 defensive snaps for the second straight 12 months in 2023 and changing him will likely be a tall order for Las Vegas. The workforce ranks twenty eighth in scoring protection by means of three video games, together with poor numbers in opposition to the move (226 yards per sport), and people figures might worsen in Epps’ absence.
The previous Viking and Eagle didn’t maintain down a full-time beginning function in Philadelphia till his closing 12 months with the workforce. Epps didn’t ship robust protection statistics that season, however his management and communication made him a sexy possibility for the Raiders to pair with Tre’von Moehrig. The latter had his greatest season thus far in 2023, however he’ll shut out the present marketing campaign with a brand new security associate. The likes of Isaiah Pola-Mao, Amari Burney, Christopher Smith and Trey Taylor are choices to tackle an elevated defensive function.
The information of Epps’ harm comes not lengthy after it was realized beginning defensive finish Malcolm Koonce can also be out for the year. These absences will depart the Raiders and not using a pair of impactful defenders shifting ahead as they appear to enhance upon a 1-2 begin. With almost $28M in cap area, Oakland has the monetary flexibility so as to add security depth.
For Epps, a former sixth-rounder, this harm will little doubt influence his free-agent worth. Epps will look to rehab in time for the beginning of the 2025 marketing campaign, however his market won’t be as robust as it will have been had he remained wholesome and productive for Vegas.