The Las Vegas Raiders’ season took another intriguing turn on Friday, as tensions surfaced between the team and star pass rusher Maxx Crosby.
FOX Sports’ Jay Glazer reported that the Raiders informed Crosby of their plan to shut him down for the final two games of the season. Crosby, who has battled through injuries for much of the year, reportedly “vehemently disagreed” with the decision and left the team facility.
The situation has since sparked questions about his relationship with the Raiders. Glazer wrote that “this could lead to questions on his future in Vegas.”
Crosby has been productive this 2025, even appearing in all 15 games for Las Vegas despite dealing with a knee injury. He has posted 10.0 sacks, 73 combined tackles, 28 tackles for loss, 20 quarterback hits, six passes defended and two forced fumbles. His relentless style has long defined both his reputation and his value to the defense.
Maxx Crosby Out as Raiders Get Into Tank Mode
The timing of the decision to bench Crosby is notable. Las Vegas is set to face the New York Giants in Week 17, a matchup loaded with draft implications.
With both teams near the bottom of the standings, the loser would be in prime position for the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. The Raiders are 2-13 on the season so far, the worst in the NFL along with the New York Giants. The Jets, meanwhile, are 3-12.
According to NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport, the Raiders officially ruled Crosby out against the Giants due to his knee injury.
For his part, Vegas head coach Pete Carroll acknowledged Crosby’s frustration but made it clear there were no hard feelings.
“No, matter of fact, I anticipated it all the way throughout,” Carroll said of Crosby’s reaction on the Raiders’ decision. “He’s just been fighting his (expletive) off the whole time; he’s positioned himself impeccably. As good a competitor as you can be. You can’t battle more than he’s battled.”
Earlier in the week, Crosby dismissed any notion of draft positioning influencing his mindset. When asked about tanking talk surrounding the Giants game, the veteran made his stance clear, saying that he doesn’t “give a [expletive] about the pick.”
For now, the Raiders appear committed to protecting their cornerstone defender, even if it means sidelining him against his will. Whether this disagreement becomes a minor footnote or a sign of deeper issues remains to be seen, but with Crosby’s competitive fire and elite production, his situation will be closely watched heading into the offseason.
