The Las Vegas Raiders are hoping defensive end Tyree Wilson can take a big step forward in 2024 after a lackluster first season in the NFL.
Wilson got off to a very slow start, which wasn't a total surprise considering he didn't have a full offseason as he worked his way back from a foot injury. The former No. 7 overall pick did show some flashes near the end of the campaign, breeding hope that things would be better in Year 2.
This year, Wilson is healthy and looks to be in great shape, but, by all accounts, he hasn't exactly blown anyone away. He appeared in two preseason games and tallied two pressures — one in each game — in 48 snaps, according to Pro Football Focus.
With the preseason in the books, Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal recently shared his opinion of Wilson on the "Morning Tailgate" and expressed concern with what he's seen.
“At this point in his rookie year, Maxx Crosby had already shown like, ‘Oh… who’s the fourth-round pick from Eastern Michigan?” Bonsignore said.
“By this time, we could (say), ‘Okay, alright. This is a player to keep an eye on.’ My problem and my trepidation about Tyree is that he’s not shown that. We’ll give him the mulligan last year and for good reason. (He’s_ now in his second season, first full training camp, (we) just haven’t seen it. Whether it’s practice, whether it’s games. You don’t feel Tyree out there. He doesn’t make his presence felt.”
Bonsignore is 100% correct in saying we need to give Wilson a chance to prove himself in the regular season before slamming the panic button. However, this is certainly a troubling review that doesn't instill much confidence.
Wilson will serve in a backup role behind fellow edge rushers Malcolm Koonce and Maxx Crosby. We may also see him inside a bit after he found some success there during his rookie campaign.
