The Las Vegas Raiders have shut down standout defender Maxx Crosby for this weekend's game against the New York Giants. As a result, Crosby has left the team's facility.
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Jay Glazer of Fox Sports first broke the news as the Raiders prepared for a game that will determine which team holds the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Crosby has dealt with a lingering knee issue throughout the season but has not missed any time.
This changes now as the Raiders will make "Max Maxx" inactive along with fellow starter Brock Bowers.
Head coach Pete Carroll addressed the situation and said that he doesn't believe shutting Crosby down against his wishes will affect their relationship moving forward.
"He knows that he's banged up, so he's talking about, 'I'd like to get out of here,'" Carroll said on Friday. "And I said, 'Yeah, get out of here.' So he took off."
Carroll continued and said that he had anticipated the five-time Pro Bowl player would react in this manner. He added that they had discussed this possibility with the veteran defender for multiple days, especially after watching him struggle to get on the bus after a game against the Chiefs.
"This didn't just spring on him," Carroll added. "We've been talking about it, and it was exactly what you would think he would do and he should do. I agree with him 1,000% on how he responded, and I (would have) responded the same way."
Crosby spoke about this weekend's game and the possibility that the Raiders could secure the No. 1 pick in next season's draft by losing to the Giants. He made it clear that this outcome is not his concern.
"Yeah, I don't give a s—- about the pick, to be honest," he told reporters. "I don't play for that. That's not my job. My job is to be the best defensive end in the world, and that's what I focus on everyday."
Now that the Raiders have shut him down for at least one game, it appears more likely that the team will secure the coveted top pick in the draft.
