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Raiders DC Patrick Graham couldn't be happier that one of his star pupils is back looking how he's supposed to look

Originally posted on A to Z Sports | By Justin Churchill | Last updated Jul 28, 2025 3:00 AM ET

The Las Vegas Raiders were without Malcolm Koonce last season after he tore his ACL before the season started.

So, they had to rely on production from other players, like Charles Snowden, K'Lavon Chaisson, Tyree Wilson, and others. And, to be fair to those guys, it worked -- despite all of the injuries the Raiders had on the defensive line last season, to Koonce, Maxx Crosby, Christian Wilkins, and Tyree Wilson, the defensive line was still really, really good, and that's props to Robbie Leonard, the DL coach.

Now, it's been a year -- Koonce, who hasn't played in a year, was brought back as a free agent on a one-year deal, where he will get to prove himself, that he's still the same guy despite the injury. If he is, they will likely bring him back on a bigger, long-term deal. If he's not, then the Raiders may just move on.

Koonce has been back at camp, and the Raiders couldn't be happier to see him.

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Patrick Graham is happy to see Malcolm Koonce at training camp

“I'm excited for him to get a chance to get out there and get better. I'm glad he’s back. His energy both on the field and in the classroom is infectious. The fact that he goes out there and executes at a high level, it’s always encouraging to see that, and it’s a good example for other players," defensive coordinator Patrick Graham said on Day 4 of training camp.

#Raiders DC Patrick Graham on DE Malcolm Koonce who returns on a 1-year deal after tearing his ACL before last season:

“Glad he’s back. His energy both on the field and in the classroom is infectious. The fact that he goes out there and executes at a high level, it’s always… pic.twitter.com/EsmVQN9Dd3
— Nick Walters (@nickwalt) July 27, 2025

2023 was a crazy season for Koonce. His performance was particularly notable in the second half of the season, where he recorded six of his eight sacks and 10 of his 17 quarterback hits in the final four games, with a standout game against the Kansas City Chiefs on Christmas Day, where he notched a career-high three sacks and eight pressures against Patrick Mahomes. He was balling, for sure.

His performance surged after Week 8, with 35 pressures, seven sacks, six tackles for loss, 15 quarterback hits, and three forced fumbles, establishing him as one of the NFL’s top pass rushers during that stretch. If the Raiders can get that back in 2025, things are going to get scary for the rest of the league.

This article first appeared on A to Z Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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