Oakland Raiders defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. is back to help outside linebacker Khalil Mack. He was picked in the second round of the 2015 NFL Draft to do just that for the 2014 1st-round pick. And after replacing an injured Justin Tuck in the starting lineup last year, he shook off a slow start and had the look of a dominant player.
However, that didn’t last long due to a neck injury that Edwards suffered in Week 15. And from that point to now, Raider Nation was left to wonder if we would see Edwards on the field again. Early on, there was speculation that the injury may cause Edwards to go 1-and-done in the NFL.
But on Friday morning, the defensive end delivered some great news to the Nation. He posted on his Instagram account that he received “final clearance” to resume his career. The Raiders have yet to confirm that for Edwards, but they have been optimistic Edwards would play in 2016 all along.
Of course, the whole nation is happy but no one is happier to have him back than All-Pro outside linebacker Khalil Mack. It was right around Week 10 that Edwards started to be very disruptive. And it was no consequence that Mack had 11 sacks from Week 10 to Week 15, when Edwards went out.
It was also no consequence that Mack didn’t have a sack in the last two games without Edwards in the lineup. In the 3-4, the defensive end is a critical part of the success of any outside linebacker. Lawrence Taylor had Leonard Marshall, Derrick Thomas had Neil Smith and Willie McGinest had Richard Seymour.
No matter how great an individual is, he’s only as good as who he plays with.
So look for Mack to be great again in 2015!