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?
All any team has to do is say the player is injured and they are protecting the player from himself. That part aside it’s the right move. Every person on here that claims to outraged by this are the same people that would clown the raiders if in a meaningless game Crosby tore his ACL.
Your opinion seems very much to be in the minority as compared to those who truly believe that this is a blatant tank move on the part of the Raiders to position themselves to lose their last couple of games….
Umm my opinion is this is a blatant tank move to try to ensure their draft position. So I’m not sure how that is different than anyone else’s…. My response to the post was to point out there is nothing the NFL can realistically do to stop it because teams can do easily play the injury card. Nobody actually cares that the raiders don’t want to win their last two games except for fans of the other bad teams hoping the raiders will beat the giants and give their team a better pick. Also my point that people would be clown the raiders organization if Crosby went out there in Week 18 and tore his ACL is obviously true.
Well…you didn’t say it was a tank move……Crosby gets paid to play….not worry about injuries that might or might not happen……and his opinion is exactly what I stated….it’s the team that is setting up a blatant tank move…
My guy I’m so confused at how you are confused on this. I replied to a comment about what the NFL can do to now allow this blatant tanking move. My reply was simple they can’t do anything to stop teams from tanking because the teams can so easily play the injury card. The context of that is I am acknowledging it’s a tank move but the NFL has no power to stop it. Secondly I am also not talking about Crosby being concerned with the injury I am pretty clearly talking about the Raiders organization being concerned with it which is why I stated the “organization” would get clowned if Crosby was seriously injured in a meaningless week 18 game. I did not say Crosby would get clowned by getting hurt in a meaningless game which pretty clearly indicates that again I am talking about the organization not the player. Yes it is a blatant tanking move that is the right move for building the best possible chance of winning next year and there is little to nothing the NFL can do about it because the Raiders control weather or not Crosby is playing not the NFL and not him.
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 🙂
It’s the culture. Culture is worth more than picks because it affects every single person in the organization, not just one or stud prospects that were nabbed with top picks. Having every player, coach, or scout perform, say, 10% better because they believe in a certain version or have a standard is, in my view, a much more effective way to continually compete.
It also is much more sustainable than hitting on one or two franchise talents (or the unfortunate quick burning amazing wonders who either get hurt, burn out, or force a trade) who might be great individually, but on a team that continually loses. Good teams will always have stars, no matter what, but there have been a ton of guys like Myles Garrett, Curtis Martin, Larry Fitzgerald, Barry Sanders, or Joe Thomas who couldn’t elevate their teams past their individual accomplishments because of the environment around them (yes, some of them had/have spots of success team-wise, but it’s been rare) Maxx Crosby himself was a lower end pick, who outpaced a first rounder in Clelin Ferrell to become the face of the franchise.
The Raiders did once have that winning culture, so they can regain it with the right choices-the Packers, Steelers, and Broncos are all franchises who have been known at various time for having strong cultures, but have all also had long droughts of success at various times.
It just goes to show that sustainably successful teams build with the right people culturally before they chase talent. Talent is important, but hurting your team culture to pursue it can only get you so far, and usually “far” is picking at the top of the draft again.
You know people toss that word “culture” around all the time but does it actually mean anything? I’ve yet to see anyone present any metrics by which culture can be measured and graded. With owners now selling shares to private equity interests, whatever culture may have once existed, seems destined to become extinct.
It will, absolutely. No argument there. Between private equity, constant consumerism, and AI, culture really barely exists anywhere anymore as is.
In football, though, there are still certain teams where it exists. You can’t really measure it, like you said, but you definitely see it/feel it when it’s there. It’s the expectation to win. That grows over time-not just by winning individual games, but his a standard is set to carry on those wins further. How that manifests with players/staff is when they expect to win, and when they lose, they fight hard to not lose again.
That’s really, actually, what it comes down to-it’s not what you do when you’re winning, but what you do when you’re losing. The teams with good culture believe that they can win, and they’re expected to. Most importantly, they don’t get the “What’s the point?” thoughts when faced with challenges. You never want someone saying, “Why bother working hard or almost getting injured-we’re going to lose anyway.” Anytime you have that thought, that’s the number one indicator that your culture is a big problem.
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).
Tell us how it goes.
You still have Cable? In 2025? That’s pretty shocking
Who said anything about having cable?
Cable companies today offer hybrid streaming packages, ala carte style. It’s pretty good, I have it with Fios,
@Erebus: many people use over-the-air antenna to watch the NFL. I do, supplemented with streaming. The NFL is one of the few things I still use the antenna for.
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.
but the fans PAID to watch Crosby and Bowers play.
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I’ won’t speak for anyone but me, but I’d much prefer Mendoza over winning Sunday. It’s hard to envision a debate,
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’s just a dawg and doesn’t want to be that guy that can play but won’t. He’s the leader of that team and is tired of the losing culture. I guess at the end of the day they’re making that decision for 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.
The Raiders didn’t do enough in the offseason, but nobody thought they were going to actually be worse than last year. Crosby genuinely loves the Raiders, this isn’t a pure case of “greed”. If you don’t know that, don’t bother posting about it.
I would like to see him go to a good organization before he’s too old to be a difference maker, so I hope this is the last straw for him
From google: Over the last 10 years (roughly 2015-2025), the Las Vegas Raiders have experienced inconsistent performance, often finishing in the middle to lower ranks of the AFC West, with some playoff appearances but no deep runs.
The Raiders have been a joke really since the 90’s. If Crosby can’t see this, that’s on him. I’m willing to bet the Browns have similar numbers. Both players signed for the money, not winning.
My point wasn’t that they aren’t joke organizations, because they are. You’re just claiming greed is the only reason Crosby stayed and I’m saying you’re wrong. There’s also something to be said for comfort for an ex-addict who cleaned his life up with the Raiders. Also, if you needed Google to look that up you probably shouldn’t be commenting. Most people on here are probably aware of the last 10 years of the NFL
My point is there Raiders have been awful for the last 30 years. For Maxx to suddenly think they have a winning roster, but caught off guard by another losing season is ridiculous. I’m glad he’s clean, but as a pro athlete, winning is what’s its about. No one thought Geno was the answer at QB and proven right. Maxx wasted this year knowing it was going to be a sub 500 team, then complains about it.
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
The jets are probably doing it, at least in part, for the draft pick. But I also understand wanting to evaluate a young qb in a lost season. Even finding a decent backup at that position is important.
Two birds one stone why not?
Well, this ought to go over well.
not sure any of the current draft class qb’s are worth tanking for and the bad karma that’s sure to follow
Good for Crosby. Kind of refreshing to read about a player who still wants to win on a bad team rather than just play out the string.
Talk about wasting two of this generations HOF pash rushers.
Free Myles Garret
Free Maxx Crosby
We’d be happy to bring either to Philly. Crosby has our utmost respect after his comments about playing here for the first time.
Would love the league step in and do something to the Raiders. First they put their top offensive player on IR, Brock Bowers, then their top defensive player. They couldn’t be more obvious about tanking for the #1 pick. Where they’ll probably take Mendoza.
Will be interesting to see the Commissioners take on this.
Nothing will come of it. Even in retirement, Brady is still the golden child of the NFL. Nothing he is attached to will ever have real consequences.
As if it wasn’t bad enough for raiders fans to suffer, now they don’t even get to see their best players perform.
What kind of world are we in where the player is paid $30M per to play 17 games a year and still get paid if they don’t play but the average worker gets a fraction of a percentage and has to perform everyday. I applaud him for his dedication to play.
As a fan of the team, I think they are idiots for how they drafted last two seasons. Could have had a very good O line heading into next year. But no, we got luxury picks when we needed staples. Morons.
I don’t blame Crosby for being upset but it’s in the best interest of the organization for many reasons. They absolutely need to trade Crosby this off season and get some picks. As great as he is, he’s a waste in Vegas. He’s not helping the team win…not his fault, it’s just more than any defensive player is capable of doing on a team with that talent level. Reggie couldn’t do enough to make that team win games. L.T alone couldn’t. It’s time to be sensible and do the right thing for the organization and Crosby and deal him somewhere he can have an impact on actually winning ballgames. I love the Raiders but they suck and they will for a few more years so deal him to Dallas and let’s get my Cowboys defense applying some pressure next season. Crosby on the Eagles would be awesome for Philly and he’d look wicked in that green and white. There’s several other teams that would make sense as well. Let’s just end this farce once and for all and start rebuilding things in Vegas the right way
As great a match the Eagles are, the problem is I think we need a RT in waiting more than we need a DE for 2 years. A 2nd rounder and two 3rds need to be used to try to move up as opposed to trading for Crosby with a low 1 and a low 2 and then drafting a RT project later. The Mailata project obviously worked out but I don’t wanna try that again.
Seems to me the Raiders are tanking every time they let Geno Smith walk out onto the field………
New rule: if you don’t win at least 4 games you are disqualified from a top 5 pick.
Make it happen
No just do a lottery system to prevent some of this tanking….
The “must win 4 games” isn’t bad but make it even simpler – worst team in league picks 5th. 4 teams above worst team have weighted lottery
This loser org deserves the misery it deals with. Sucks for the fans, but for anyone else? Not sorry.