With the Raiders approaching a critical game regarding their chances at the No. 1 pick, they are moving forward without another critical player in the lineup. Maxx Crosby will not play against the Giants on Sunday. 
Vegas informed Crosby he will be inactive on Sunday, Ian Rapoport of NFL Network reports. The five-time Pro Bowler wants to play down the stretch despite the fact the Raiders have long been out of playoff contention. The team’s preference would be for Crosby to be sidelined for the final two weeks of the season, Fox Sports’ Jay Glazer adds. Head coach Pete Carroll has since confirmed (via Vincent Bonsignore of the Las Vegas Review-Journal) the team is shutting down its top player.
Per Glazer, Crosby “vehemently disagreed” with the decision to sit him and left the team facility upon learning the news. He adds this episode could invite a new round of speculation regarding the decorated edge rusher’s future in Las Vegas. Crosby has of course been tied to trade talk over the years, but owner Mark Davis has fiercely denied any suggestions about a parting of ways receiving consideration.
“Yeah, I don’t give a s— about the pick, to be honest,” Crosby said earlier this week when asked about the No. 1 selection in April’s draft (h/t Rapoport). “I don’t play for that. That’s not my job. My job is to be the best defensive end in the world. Being a great leader, being an influence.”
This Crosby decision comes shortly after standout tight end Brock Bowers was moved to injured reserve. That ended his season in time for the Sunday Giants matchup which will see the NFL’s two 2-13 teams play each other. The loser will secure an inside track for the top pick; doing so for Vegas in particular would be critical. Drafting first overall would allow the Raiders to land a quarterback capable of taking over from Geno Smith as the team’s starter over the long term.
Crosby has dealt with a knee injury for much of the year, but he has managed to play all 15 games so far in 2025. A second-team All-Pro selection on two occasions, he has remained one of the league’s top EDGE producers this season. Crosby has totaled 10 sacks, reaching double-digits in that regard for the fourth time in his seven-year career.
This past spring, Crosby worked out a three-year, $106.5MM extension. That pact very briefly made him the league’s highest-paid pass rusher in terms of AAV, but five players now sit ahead of Crosby at this point. The 28-year-old is under contract through 2029, but it will be interesting to see if today’s developments make any difference with respect to his commitment to the franchise.
Tanking!
I’m not sure they could be more obvious about it either. Besides coming out and saying it anyways…
how are they allowed to get away with this? is the NFL powerless against this?
Teams tank to improve their draft position…then the light bulb goes on and they realize that if they actually had any skill at drafting…they wouldn’t be in a position where they would have to consider tanking 🙂
Don’t worry, the Raiders will find a way to snatch a win off the Giants (and I’m one of the fortunate few that’ll get the game on CBS).
Stupid crap … no wonder he leaves. I understand tanking for draft position, but the fans PAID to watch Crosby and Bowers play. And teams wonder why their fans sell their tickets to opposing fans? Crosby shouldnt report next year till he is on a new team. Nothing like teams dogging it the final two weeks …
He will be just like Myles Garrett, they offer a new contract and all is good. Crosby should be moved to a new team, like Garrett should have been. The owners of the teams will make the price too high and then just offer a new contract.
Just trade him already
Get the draft picks and enter the rebuild fully committed
Dallas has some nice draft picks
@Brian wolf, no one made Crosby sign that new contract. His greed was more important. Same for Myles in Cleveland, but both whine about their teams. Neither franchise has been worth anything during their entire careers.
He wants to play for the Raiders, they should let him play but they want to keep him healthy before he is dealt?
I love that Maxx is a gamer but in reality this isn’t a bad decision. If he’s already got a balky knee, then it makes sense to let him begin the healing process and not risk having him get injured worse and compromise his availability next season.
We’re gonna suck next season too, but at least he’ll be available to be one of the very few bright spots that we have on the roster lol.
Carroll is downplaying it, agreeing with you that the injury is too much, though Crosby has been playing anyway. Maybe Crosby just wants to leave this season behind by leaving the facility but would play if Carroll let him?
He is gone this winter. 1yr Guarenteed Salary and just $5m in dead cap.
No way Crosby will re-sign and they Raiders have to move him before getting nothing but a Comp Pick.
Along with Tanking….They can’t risk getting him hurt before they open up the Crosby Auction.
Crosby wants to be a Raider, win or lose. If he wants to play, let him. I guess they want him healthy for training camp before dealing him?
Was trying to reply to Arty!
All I heard during the season is Myles and him complain about their teams.
They wanted their teams to at least win seven games … wouldnt you complain?
What a terrible situation. I remember when you could still get a star player with the 2nd pick or even the 3rd. Now teams are forced to tank so they can secure the only player that could possibly put them over the top. Universities should be ashamed of themselves that with all the money in college football today, they could only produce one player worth drafting.
@Brian wolf Browns went 3-14 & Raiders went 4-13 last year. They choose greed over wins, simple as that. It was their decision whether to re-up or not. Frankly, the franchises should have traded both for picks for actual rebuilds.
Of course a team led by Brady is going to cheat and lie.
I love how all these organizations have to do minuscule and petty ways to tank and then vehemently deny they’re doing so. This time of year is always hilarious lol. Raiders benching their best player on both sides of the ball. Jets keeping Brady cook as starter even though Tyrod is healthy now. It’s just funny to me. I get the business though