Raiders lose rookie DT Eddie Vanderdoes to torn ACL

CARSON, Calif. — An injury-riddled season for the Raiders’ draft class ended Sunday on a somber note.

Defensive tackle Eddie Vanderdoes tore his ACL, a source said.

The third-round pick clutched his left knee during the fourth quarter of a 30-10 loss to the Los Angeles Chargers on New Year’s Eve. He is expected to undergo an MRI on Monday to reveal the full extent of damage. Given the injury occurred so late in the year, he likely will be sidelined throughout the spring and may miss the start of training camp.

Last April, the Raiders sought to address their defensive needs atop the draft.

First-round pick Gareon Conley underwent shin surgery on Nov. 20. The cornerback played two games. Second-round pick Obi Melifonwu underwent arthroscopic knee surgery in late August and hip surgery on Dec. 14. The safety missed the first eight games and final three. Vanderdoes played all 16 games but now awaits reconstructive knee surgery, anticipated sometime in January.

Athletic trainers jogged to him as he laid on the field in pain. After a couple minutes, he walked to the sideline with his left arm around defensive end Khalil Mack. A cart arrived to shuttle him to the locker room. Vanderdoes, torn ACL and all, chose to walk on his own terms.

10,000 Club

Marshawn Lynch earned a six-figure bonus while reaching a five-digit milestone.

The Raiders running back entered Sunday with 790 rushing yards. His contract features a $600,000 bonus for finishing 2017 with at least 800 yards. He surpassed that threshold in the first quarter and then a far more historical one in the fourth, reaching 10,000 rushing yards for his career.

The 31-year-old finished with 19 carries for 101 yards, his second 100-yard game as a Raider and giving him 10,003 in his career. He added two receptions for 18 yards all while forcing six missed tackles, according to Pro Football Focus. His 50 missed tackles forced ranked sixth-most in the NFL for 2017.

Notable

— The Raiders will own the No. 9 or 10 overall draft pick. A coin toss will break a tie between them and the San Francisco 49ers.

— Conservatively, about 75 percent of spectators at the StubHub Center were Raiders fans. Wide receiver Amari Cooper caught an 87-yard touchdown in the second quarter. Multiple people who have attended Chargers home games all year said the cheer was the loudest heard at the stadium in 2017.

— Safety Reggie Nelson forced Chargers running back Melvin Gordon to fumble in the second quarter. The ball, however, shot straight to wide receiver Keenan Allen, who advanced the fumble for a 27-yard touchdown return.

— Cornerback TJ Carrie spent much of the afternoon in man-to-man coverage with Allen, who caught nine passes for 133 yards and a touchdown. Cornerback Sean Smith often was matched up with wide receiver Tyrell Williams. He caught three passes for 67 yards. Most of that production stemmed from a 56-yard touchdown on which Smith was not in coverage.

—No punter garnered more Pro Bowl votes from fans than Marquette King. Late in the first quarter, he showed why when booting a punt into the sideline. The ball trailed out of bounds at the 1-yard line. The Chargers still scored, however, with help from the fluky Allen fumble recovery.

Contact reporter Michael Gehlken at mgehlken@reviewjournal.com. Follow @GehlkenNFL on Twitter.