{"id":11581,"date":"2025-12-27T05:03:48","date_gmt":"2025-12-27T05:03:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/maxx-crosby-miss-raiders-giants\/"},"modified":"2025-12-27T05:03:48","modified_gmt":"2025-12-27T05:03:48","slug":"maxx-crosby-miss-raiders-giants","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/maxx-crosby-miss-raiders-giants\/","title":{"rendered":"Maxx Crosby to sit out Raiders vs. Giants after knee setback, Pete Carroll says"},"content":{"rendered":"<article>\n<h2>Lead<\/h2>\n<p>Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby will not play in Sunday\u2019s 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\u2019s knee has been an ongoing issue since around Week 12 and that Crosby \u2014 who pushed to play \u2014 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.<\/p>\n<h2>Key takeaways<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Maxx Crosby is listed out for Sunday\u2019s game vs. the Giants due to a knee issue that has persisted since Week 12 (after the 33\u201316 loss to Dallas).<\/li>\n<li>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.<\/li>\n<li>Carroll warned Crosby may also miss Week 18 at Kansas City after a recent evaluation showed the knee remains problematic.<\/li>\n<li>Crosby left the Raiders facility when informed of the decision; Carroll described the reaction as understandable for a competitive veteran.<\/li>\n<li>The Week 17 matchup pits two 2\u201313 teams against one another; the loser will have a stronger path to the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.<\/li>\n<li>Crosby has been on the team\u2019s injury report since Week 12 and has missed at least one practice each week since Week 14 as a non-participant.<\/li>\n<li>Durability is a hallmark of Crosby\u2019s 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.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Background<\/h2>\n<p>Maxx Crosby, a fourth-round draft pick of the Raiders in 2019, has developed into the franchise\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p>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 \u2014 after a 33\u201316 \u201cMonday Night Football\u201d defeat to the Dallas Cowboys \u2014 and the injury has been managed on a weekly basis on the Raiders\u2019 practice reports.<\/p>\n<p>The Raiders enter Week 17 with major roster questions on defense and offense. Prior to Carroll\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<h2>Main event<\/h2>\n<p>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\u2019s knee was not in suitable condition for game action. The coach emphasized that the decision followed deliberation and a desire to protect Crosby\u2019s long-term health.<\/p>\n<p>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\u2019s caliber and said he agreed with Crosby\u2019s instincts while standing by the medical decision. After receiving the news, Crosby left the team facility.<\/p>\n<p>The immediate impact is on a Week 17 game between two 2\u201313 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.<\/p>\n<p>Las Vegas has managed Crosby\u2019s 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\u2019s medical staff and coaching personnel weighed those practice trends along with recent imaging and evaluations in reaching their decision.<\/p>\n<h2>Analysis &#038; implications<\/h2>\n<p>Short term, Crosby\u2019s absence weakens the Raiders\u2019 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.<\/p>\n<p>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\u2019s public framing \u2014 that the team chose Crosby\u2019s \u201clong-term betterment\u201d \u2014 underscores a medical-first approach that could help preserve Crosby\u2019s career value and future availability, including contract and Pro Bowl considerations.<\/p>\n<p>For roster planning and the franchise\u2019s immediate outlook, missing Crosby compounds earlier losses (Bowers, Chinn) and limits the coaching staff\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n<p>League-wide, Crosby\u2019s 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\u2019 ability to close the season while preserving asset value for 2026.<\/p>\n<h2>Comparison &#038; data<\/h2>\n<figure>\n<table>\n<thead>\n<tr>\n<th>Season<\/th>\n<th>Games (to date)<\/th>\n<th>Sacks<\/th>\n<th>Forced Fumbles<\/th>\n<th>Interceptions<\/th>\n<th>Notes<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>2025<\/td>\n<td>15<\/td>\n<td>10<\/td>\n<td>2<\/td>\n<td>1<\/td>\n<td>Pro Bowl selection; knee issue since Week 12<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>2024<\/td>\n<td>Missed 5 games<\/td>\n<td>\u2014<\/td>\n<td>\u2014<\/td>\n<td>\u2014<\/td>\n<td>Ankle injury ended season Week 15; surgery required<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<\/figure>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<h2>Reactions &#038; quotes<\/h2>\n<p>Carroll framed the decision as difficult but necessary, noting the team debated the choice and settled on what medical staff recommended. He said Crosby\u2019s reaction \u2014 leaving the facility and pushing to play \u2014 reflected the player\u2019s competitive temperament.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;We thought our way through it and hopefully came to the right conclusion for his long-(term) betterment,&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>Pete Carroll, Raiders head coach<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>Team sources and teammates expressed sympathy for Crosby\u2019s 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\u2019s confirmation.<\/p>\n<blockquote>\n<p>&#8220;If we let him, he would have been out there; he would not have hesitated,&#8221;<\/p>\n<p><cite>Pete Carroll (on Crosby&#8217;s willingness to play)<\/cite><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<h2>\n<aside>\n<details>\n<summary>Explainer: Why teams shut players down late in the season<\/summary>\n<p>Teams weigh several factors when deciding to hold a player out late in the season: the severity and prognosis of the injury, the player\u2019s long-term contract and career value, the competitive stakes of the remaining games, and medical recommendations about the risk of aggravation. Practically, a shutdown may be chosen to avoid surgery delays, preserve trade or contract leverage, or protect a veteran\u2019s availability for the following season. The decision typically involves coaches, medical staff and the player himself.<\/p>\n<\/details>\n<\/aside>\n<\/h2>\n<h2>Unconfirmed<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li>Whether Crosby will require surgery for the knee is not publicly confirmed; the team did not announce a surgical plan on Friday.<\/li>\n<li>The definitive timeline for Crosby\u2019s return (beyond the possible Week 18 absence) remains unclear pending further evaluation and imaging.<\/li>\n<li>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.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Bottom line<\/h2>\n<p>Las Vegas\u2019s 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\u2019s near-term health and potential long-term career trajectory, but it also removes the team\u2019s most reliable pass rusher for a game with draft implications and for possibly the season finale.<\/p>\n<p>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.<\/p>\n<h2>Sources<\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.nytimes.com\/athletic\/6920492\/2025\/12\/26\/maxx-crosby-raiders-sit-out-pushes-back\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">The New York Times \u2014 Athletic report (major news outlet)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.foxsports.com\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Fox Sports \u2014 initial media report (sports media)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.raiders.com\/news\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Las Vegas Raiders \u2014 team site (official)<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=\"https:\/\/www.pro-football-reference.com\/players\/C\/CrosMa00.htm\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">Pro-Football-Reference \u2014 player statistics (statistical database)<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/article>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Lead Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby will not play in Sunday\u2019s 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\u2019s knee has been an ongoing issue since around Week 12 and that Crosby \u2014 who pushed to &#8230; <a title=\"Maxx Crosby to sit out Raiders vs. Giants after knee setback, Pete Carroll says\" class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/maxx-crosby-miss-raiders-giants\/\" aria-label=\"Read more about Maxx Crosby to sit out Raiders vs. Giants after knee setback, Pete Carroll says\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":11578,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rank_math_title":"Maxx Crosby sidelined vs. Giants \u2014 SportsLens","rank_math_description":"Raiders pass rusher Maxx Crosby will miss Sunday\u2019s game vs. the Giants due to a lingering knee injury; coach Pete Carroll says Crosby may also sit Week 18 at Kansas City.","rank_math_focus_keyword":"Maxx Crosby, Raiders, knee injury, Pete Carroll, Giants","footnotes":""},"categories":[2],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-11581","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-top-stories"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11581","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=11581"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/11581\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/11578"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=11581"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=11581"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/readtrends.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=11581"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}