PFF Recap: Grading the Oakland Raiders in Week 5

Stacy McGee Finds Success in Mario Edwards Jr’s Absence

With defensive end Mario Edwards Jr. not expected to make his 2016 debut until Week 9, Raiders defensive coordinator Ken Norton Jr. has made the best of the healthy interior defensive linemen on the active roster, rotating players in and out with each play.

Fourth-year defensive lineman Stacy McGee was one of the few interior defenders to play in more than 40 percent of the Raiders’ defensive snaps against San Diego, and he made the most of the opportunity.

McGee, a sixth-round pick out of Oklahoma in the 2013 NFL draft, accumulated a career-high 1.5 sacks and two forced fumbles working against the Chargers’ interior offensive line.

Del Rio highlighted McGee’s performance after the game.

"“Yeah. Stacy. Yeah, he did a nice job,” Del Rio said. “I think he ended up in a couple of sacks. We count on him for a lot of physical play. That was good to see. We need it from all the different guys, and Stacy shined today.”"

With Khalil Mack and Bruce Irvin expected to attack the quarterback off the edge, opposing signal callers will struggle to step up in the pocket if McGee can continue to shine as an interior pass rusher.

McGee humbly acknowledged his work ethic and the rest of his defensive line when asked about how he got the job done on Sunday.

"“Working hard, practicing hard as a d-line to get the quarterback all year,” McGee said. “Hopefully we’re going to keep getting them, piling them up as a d-line.”"