Raiders activate Tyree Wilson to first-round NFI roster pick: What that means for Las Vegas

The Las Vegas Raiders took defensive end Tyree Wilson off the non-football injury list Wednesday. Here’s what you need to know:

• The No. 7 pick will start in the 2023 NFL Draft for the first time on Wednesday after missing the start of training camp with a foot injury.
• Wilson suffered a broken right foot in Texas Tech’s November 12 win over Kansas and was unable to practice in the NFL in April.
• The 6-foot-5, 270-pound rusher recorded 14 sacks and 27.5 tackles for loss over his last two seasons with the Red Raiders.

the athleteInstant Analysis:

What does this mean for las vegas

The Raiders’ brightest spot thus far in training camp has been the play of – and depth of – the defensive line. And Coach Josh McDaniels will need shade in Wednesday’s combined practice with the Rams in Thousand Oaks, the future is very bright. This is because Wilson was cleared to practice after being discharged even before the NFL Draft with a foot injury.

Wilson was drafted seventh overall due to his fast passing skills, despite his inability to work on teams. And he’s been busy rehabilitating at camp and learning from veterans Max Crosby and Chandler Jones.

“He’s accomplished a lot from a playbook standpoint and a routine standpoint,” defensive line coach Rob Leonard said last week.

Fellow rookie Nesta Jed Silvera had a solid camp, and the Raiders defensive line (excluding the starters, who didn’t play) had four sacks against the 49ers in Sunday’s season opener. – bubbling

What can you expect from Wilson in 2023

The Raiders knew they would have to be patient with Wilson since they drafted him in April. He had suffered a season-ending foot injury that required surgery the previous November during his senior year at Texas Tech and wanted to avoid risking a relapse. This caused the seventh-place finisher to not be selected for the OTAs and the first half of training camp and he would naturally have a lot of catching up to do, but he was always chosen with the long-term vision in mind.

Crosby and Jones are ahead of Wilson on the depth chart. Barring an injury, that will still be the same when the season begins. The plan is for Wilson to act as a third striker this year with the ability to rotate in for defensive handling on passing. The Raiders want him to contribute, of course, but 2023 will be more about learning from Crosby and Jones, improving his game and preparing himself to enter a bigger role moving forward. – cane

what are they saying

“He certainly won’t let it fly… (Wilson) is progressing the way we thought he would and so now it’s time to take the next step,” McDaniels to reporters Wed before practice. “Get him on the field, put him in his pads. Start working toward being able to participate in team workouts and all that stuff. So we’ll try to take it at the right pace here as we go forward.”

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(Photo: Kirby Lee/USA Today)