In what seems to be a stacked room of returning players, injuries prevented the defensive line from reaching its full potential in 2024.
Malcolm Koonce missed the entirety of the season after suffering a knee injury days before the season opener against the Los Angeles Chargers. He seemed destined for a standout season after breaking through for eight sacks in 2023. A few weeks later, premier free agent signing Christian Wilkins suffered a season-ending foot injury.
Additionally, four-time Pro Bowler Maxx Crosby suffered an high ankle sprain in Week 2 against the Baltimore Ravens, forcing him out of action for the first time in his career the following week. He re-aggravated the injury against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 14, prompting him to get surgery and miss the last four games of the season. While missing five games, he still led the team in sacks (7.5), tackles for loss (17) and quarterback hits (20).
“I think it all sucked for all of us,” Koonce said. “Like all of us, we’re in the training room seeing games and seeing bad things play out and stuff like that. So, I feel like for us … it was just a sucky situation. It just didn’t feel good for anybody.”
While Wilkins is still recovering and rehabbing his foot, Crosby and Koonce returned back to the field this offseason.
“Last year was definitely one of the hardest years of my life in general,” Crosby said during OTAs. “So many things going on, battling injuries, not being able to be myself at times, I felt like. There’s no excuses. It’s just, it’s tough. It’s part of the game, and that’s what comes with it. … But I feel like everything happens for a reason. I look at it, I feel like I’m a look I’m going to look back years from now, it’s going to all make sense. And it’s just been incredible being out there with my teammates, being able to just fully be myself, not hesitate on any type of cut and just cut it loose. It’s the best feeling on the planet.”