Las Vegas Raiders Sideline Maxx Crosby for Giants Game Due to Knee Injury
The Las Vegas Raiders have made the decision to hold star defensive end Maxx Crosby out of their Week 17 matchup against the New York Giants. Coach Pete Carroll announced the move, citing a nagging knee injury that Crosby has been managing since Week 7. After being informed of the decision, Crosby left the team facility. This development comes in a game with significant draft implications, as the loser will assume control of the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft.
In a significant development for the Las Vegas Raiders' final stretch of the 2025 NFL season, head coach Pete Carroll announced that defensive end Maxx Crosby will not play in Sunday's Week 17 contest against the New York Giants. The decision, driven by a persistent knee injury, sidelines the team's best defensive player for a critical game with major implications for the franchise's future.
The Injury Decision and Player Reaction
According to reports from ESPN, Crosby was informed of the team's decision on Friday. After the conversation with Coach Carroll, Crosby expressed a desire to leave the team facility, a request that Carroll granted. "He knows that he's banged up, so he's talking about, 'I'd like to get out of here.' And I said, 'Yeah, get out of here.' So he took off," Carroll explained. The coach emphasized that the move was not a surprise and that he supported Crosby's reaction completely, stating he agreed with him "1,000 percent."
Context of the Knee Issue
Crosby has been battling this knee injury since the Raiders' Week 7 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs. Despite the discomfort, he had managed to play in every subsequent game, showcasing his trademark toughness. However, after missing practice all week and undergoing a recent evaluation, the medical and coaching staff determined that resting him was the necessary course of action. "After an evaluation we did Monday or Tuesday, whenever it was, it just looks too bad," Carroll stated, highlighting the severity that prompted the shutdown.
Implications for the Raiders and the Draft
Crosby's absence comes at a pivotal moment. The Week 17 matchup against the Giants features a unique stakes: the loser of the game will assume control of the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Both teams enter the contest with identical 2-13 records. Crosby is the third key starter ruled out, joining tight end Brock Bowers and safety Jeremy Chinn, who were placed on injured reserve earlier in the week. When asked earlier about the team potentially securing the top draft pick, Crosby was characteristically blunt, telling reporters, "I don't give a s--- about the pick. I don't play for that."
Looking Ahead to the Season Finale
The decision also raises questions about Crosby's availability for the season finale against the Kansas City Chiefs. Coach Carroll indicated it was a possibility he could miss that game as well, with the priority being the player's long-term health. "Hopefully, the right conclusion for his long betterment," Carroll said of the decision. Despite the competitive shutdown, Carroll does not believe the move will negatively impact his relationship with the five-time Pro Bowl selection, noting they spoke four times on the day of the announcement.
Crosby's 2025 season, though now curtailed, was another standout performance. He was named to his fifth consecutive Pro Bowl after recording 10 sacks and a career-best 28 tackles for loss. His leadership and relentless play have been constants for the Raiders, making his absence profoundly felt as the team navigates the final weeks of a challenging season.
