Las Vegas Raiders star edge-rusher Maxx Crosby left the team’s facility due to a disagreement over his playing status for his team’s final two regular season games.
Pete Carroll confirmed the news following a report from Jay Glazer of Fox Sports:
“He said, ‘I’d like to get out here,’ so I said, ‘Get out of here,’ and he took off,” Carroll said, via video from Vegas Sports Today, later adding, “It was exactly like you would think he would do, and he should do, and I agree with him a 1000 percent on how he responded.”
Ian Rapoport of NFL Network added more insight, citing the team’s concern over a knee injury Crosby has been playing through since October. However, it’s clear Crosby wants to suit up.
The 2-13 Raiders finish the 2025 season at home for two games against the New York Giants on Sunday and then the Kansas City Chiefs on Jan. 4.
The Raiders are in great position for the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL draft and will get it if they lose their final two games. Their greatest competition for that selection is the Giants, who are also 2-13. Obviously, a loss in that final game would go a long way toward getting the coveted pick.
Crosby is a five-time Pro Bowler and two-time Second Team All-Pro. He has amassed 69.5 sacks in 110 career games. Despite playing through injury, Crosby has amassed 10 sacks and played all 15 games. In addition, the former Eastern Michigan star has racked up 73 tackles and 20 quarterback hits.
Needless to say, the Raider defense is taking a massive hit without Crosby. In fact, he is responsible for 38.5 percent of Las Vegas’ 26-sack total and 32.8 percent of the Raiders’ 61 quarterback hits.
In addition, it’s clear Crosby is mad, based on the Glazer report. Crosby is a gamer who just wants to play and, understandably, win.
“Yeah, I don’t give a s–t about the pick,” Crosby said Tuesday, per ESPN’s Ryan McFadden. “I don’t play for that.”
So Crosby’s reported reaction to being benched is no surprise.
Regarding his contract status, Crosby just signed a three-year, $106.5 million extension through 2029.
Las Vegas’ offense is also dead-last in scoring and will already be without star tight end Brock Bowers, who was just placed on injured reserve. Bowers, who had 64 catches for 680 yards and seven touchdowns in 12 games, has dealt with a knee injury since Week 1 that previously forced him to miss three contests.
Kickoff Sunday is set for 4:05 p.m. ET in Las Vegas’ Allegiant Stadium.