Lead
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby will not play in Sunday’s Week 17 game against the New York Giants because of a lingering knee injury, coach Pete Carroll told reporters on Friday. Carroll said the veteran’s knee has been an ongoing issue since around Week 12 and that Crosby — who pushed to play — was shut down after a recent medical evaluation. The coach also said Crosby could miss the regular-season finale in Week 18 at the Kansas City Chiefs. The decision follows earlier roster losses, including the season-ending absence of tight end Brock Bowers and starting safety Jeremy Chinn.
Key takeaways
- Maxx Crosby is listed out for Sunday’s game vs. the Giants due to a knee issue that has persisted since Week 12 (after the 33–16 loss to Dallas).
- Crosby has recorded 10 sacks, two forced fumbles and one interception in 15 games this season and was named to the Pro Bowl alongside Will Anderson Jr. and Myles Garrett.
- Carroll warned Crosby may also miss Week 18 at Kansas City after a recent evaluation showed the knee remains problematic.
- Crosby left the Raiders facility when informed of the decision; Carroll described the reaction as understandable for a competitive veteran.
- The Week 17 matchup pits two 2–13 teams against one another; the loser will have a stronger path to the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
- Crosby has been on the team’s injury report since Week 12 and has missed at least one practice each week since Week 14 as a non-participant.
- Durability is a hallmark of Crosby’s career: he played every game in his first five NFL seasons and missed five games in 2024 due to an ankle injury that ended his season in Week 15.
Background
Maxx Crosby, a fourth-round draft pick of the Raiders in 2019, has developed into the franchise’s most consistent pass rusher. He has earned Pro Bowl honors in each of the last five seasons and entered 2025 as a team leader and primary edge defender. Over the years Crosby established a reputation for availability and toughness, playing every game during his first five seasons with Las Vegas.
That reputation has been tested by injuries in recent seasons. In 2024 Crosby dealt with a lingering ankle issue that required surgery after Week 15 and cost him five games. In 2025 the team noted a knee problem beginning around Week 12 — after a 33–16 “Monday Night Football” defeat to the Dallas Cowboys — and the injury has been managed on a weekly basis on the Raiders’ practice reports.
The Raiders enter Week 17 with major roster questions on defense and offense. Prior to Carroll’s announcement about Crosby, the team had already confirmed Brock Bowers (tight end) and starting safety Jeremy Chinn would miss the remainder of the season, narrowing the margin for error in a game that carries draft implications for both franchises.
Main event
Coach Pete Carroll spoke to reporters on Friday to confirm that Crosby would not play against the Giants. Carroll said the team performed an evaluation earlier in the week and determined Crosby’s knee was not in suitable condition for game action. The coach emphasized that the decision followed deliberation and a desire to protect Crosby’s long-term health.
Crosby, a seven-year veteran, reportedly pushed to play and reacted strongly when told he would be held out. Carroll described that response as expected for a competitor of Crosby’s caliber and said he agreed with Crosby’s instincts while standing by the medical decision. After receiving the news, Crosby left the team facility.
The immediate impact is on a Week 17 game between two 2–13 teams. The matchup has elevated stakes because the loser will improve its chances of securing the top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. With Crosby unavailable, the Raiders will be without their most productive sack artist, which could alter defensive game plans and pass-rush alignments.
Las Vegas has managed Crosby’s practice participation in recent weeks: he was listed as a limited or full participant early in the injury timeline but, since Week 14, has appeared as a non-participant in at least one practice each week. The club’s medical staff and coaching personnel weighed those practice trends along with recent imaging and evaluations in reaching their decision.
Analysis & implications
Short term, Crosby’s absence weakens the Raiders’ pass rush on arguably the most important play in a low-stakes, high-visibility game for the franchise. Opposing quarterbacks will likely face less consistent pressure, which could force the Raiders to adjust coverage schemes or rotate younger edge rushers into more snaps. That may change run-fit duties and linebacker responsibilities as the coaching staff attempts to compensate.
From a player-health perspective, the decision aligns with a broader NFL trend toward prioritizing long-term recovery over short-term availability late in the season. Carroll’s public framing — that the team chose Crosby’s “long-term betterment” — underscores a medical-first approach that could help preserve Crosby’s career value and future availability, including contract and Pro Bowl considerations.
For roster planning and the franchise’s immediate outlook, missing Crosby compounds earlier losses (Bowers, Chinn) and limits the coaching staff’s schematic flexibility. It also increases the importance of depth evaluation: how younger or backup edge rushers respond in live game conditions will influence offseason decisions on free agency, the draft and internal player development.
League-wide, Crosby’s situation is a reminder that high-impact defenders are difficult to replace and that injuries can reshuffle competitive trajectories even in games between bottom-ranked teams. If Crosby is held out again in Week 18, the Chiefs game could become a measuring stick for secondary pass-rush talents and the Raiders’ ability to close the season while preserving asset value for 2026.
Comparison & data
| Season | Games (to date) | Sacks | Forced Fumbles | Interceptions | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2025 | 15 | 10 | 2 | 1 | Pro Bowl selection; knee issue since Week 12 |
| 2024 | Missed 5 games | — | — | — | Ankle injury ended season Week 15; surgery required |
The table highlights 2025 totals available from team reporting and public stat lines: Crosby has 10 sacks in 15 games, plus two forced fumbles and one interception. His 2024 season ended early because of an ankle injury; precise 2024 counting stats are omitted here to avoid inaccuracies, but the durability note remains relevant.
Reactions & quotes
Carroll framed the decision as difficult but necessary, noting the team debated the choice and settled on what medical staff recommended. He said Crosby’s reaction — leaving the facility and pushing to play — reflected the player’s competitive temperament.
“We thought our way through it and hopefully came to the right conclusion for his long-(term) betterment,”
Pete Carroll, Raiders head coach
Team sources and teammates expressed sympathy for Crosby’s frustration while acknowledging the medical rationale. Media reporting traced the initial news to Fox Sports, which first reported that Crosby had been shut down before Carroll’s confirmation.
“If we let him, he would have been out there; he would not have hesitated,”
Pete Carroll (on Crosby’s willingness to play)
Crosby has publicly downplayed draft positioning as a motivation, emphasizing leadership and performance over lottery implications for the franchise. Teammates praised his competitive standards even as they accepted the medical call.
Unconfirmed
- Whether Crosby will require surgery for the knee is not publicly confirmed; the team did not announce a surgical plan on Friday.
- The definitive timeline for Crosby’s return (beyond the possible Week 18 absence) remains unclear pending further evaluation and imaging.
- Initial reporting attributed the shutdown to Fox Sports; while Carroll confirmed the decision publicly, the exact sequence of internal medical findings has not been released.
Bottom line
Las Vegas’s choice to sit Maxx Crosby for Week 17 reflects a conservative, medically driven approach to a veteran edge player who has been managing a knee problem since around Week 12. The move protects Crosby’s near-term health and potential long-term career trajectory, but it also removes the team’s most reliable pass rusher for a game with draft implications and for possibly the season finale.
How the Raiders respond schematically and which backups step forward will influence both the final two games of 2025 and offseason roster strategy. For Crosby, prioritizing recovery now may preserve his availability and effectiveness for future seasons, even if it means sacrificing immediate playing time and personal competitive goals.