Oakland Raiders DE Justin Tuck Ruled Out For The Season

USA Today

After an impressive start to the 2015 NFL season, the Oakland Raiders have lost two straight games falling to the Chicago Bears and division rival Denver Broncos in consecutive weeks. Although the future still looks bright for the up-and-coming Raiders, the team suffered another loss this week with one of their best defensive players going down with a season-ending injury.

According to NFL.com, the Raiders will be without veteran defensive end Justin Tuck for the rest of the season.

Raiders defensive end Justin Tuck is done for the season.

NFL Media Insider Ian Rapoport reported Thursday the veteran defensive end, on the second year of his two-year deal in Oakland, tore his pectoral muscle. He is getting surgery in the next few days and will head to injured reserve, per Rapoport.

With Tuck done for the year after undergoing surgery to repair the torn pectoral muscle, the team will lean on Khalil Mack, Mario Edwards Jr. and Aldon Smith to help shoulder the load on the defensive side of the football.

Fortunately for the Raiders, the team has a bye week giving Jack Del Rio and company some extra time to figure out how to deal with the loss of Tuck. Oakland will get back on the field in Week 7 on the road in a crucial divisional matchup against the San Diego Chargers at Qualcomm Stadium.

Over the course of the first few weeks of the season, the defense has been the major question mark for Del Rio’s Raiders. The team appears to be coming together offensively, but outside of a few brilliant interceptions by Charles Woodson and Mack making a few impressive plays, Oakland has some work to do defensively.