The Raiders defense will be without a depth piece for at least this Sunday’s game against the Panthers.
Rookie linebacker Shilique Calhoun will not play this weekend after undergoing a knee procedure. Calhoun is not expected to miss the rest of the regular season.
Calhoun, a third-round pick, has spelled Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin on the edges of the defense this season. He’s played about a quarter of the snaps and hasn’t had a tremendous impact with five tackles and a half sack, which may be why defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. isn’t sweating the absence.
“I think [we have] depth, and I think the guys who are playing well are going to continue to play well and they’re going to really bring the group with them,” Norton Jr. said, via CSNBayArea.com. “I think that the guys are really going to step up.”
Getting defensive end Mario Edwards or linebacker Aldon Smith back in the lineup would help alleviate any depth concerns for Oakland, but Edwards remains out with a hip injury and Smith hasn’t been reinstated from suspension after becoming eligible earlier this month.
