Maxx Crosby’s season is over.
The Las Vegas Raiders pass rusher announced via Instagram on Saturday that he will not play again this year after aggravating an ankle injury to the point he needs surgery, hours after ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported he would go under the knife.
He was also officially ruled out for Monday’s game against the Atlanta Falcons earlier Saturday.
Crosby’s full statement:
As much as this pains me to write, I will not be playing the rest of the season. Second time this year getting rolled up on the same ankle and now it will require surgery. As much as it pains me to not go to war with my brothers and for the fans, I truly believe everything happens for a reason. I have absolutely zero regrets with my process, my approach and my discipline to this game.
Instead of sitting out for over a month with my first high ankle sprain @ Baltimore, I only missed 1 game and came back and fought all year because that’s who I am. If I can go, I can make a difference. Unfortunately, I got chopped blocked from the side and got another one but even worse this time vs. Tampa. Some people will say that I should just take my time and just relax and get ready for next year, I will never be that person. I have a team around me that made it possible for me to come back and still disrupt even though I truly wasn’t fully healthy all year.
I will stand in the fire no matter what the circumstance because this game is my life. If I got a heartbeat, I expect to play for the fans that spend their hard earned money to watch me perform and wear my jersey every Sunday. I do it because it means everything to me and I will never change my approach to this game. Although I can’t understand why this is happening, I truly believe everything happens for a reason. I can feel bad for myself and make excuses but I f*ckin refuse.
I will get this surgery & be on a war path for greatness everyday and be back the best version of myself. I truly believe In my soul that I’m changing the game one snap at a time and changing the way this position is viewed. If you don’t believe me, if you have doubts, if you think I need to chill, GOOD… just WATCH ME. 🦅💎 #Limitless
Crosby is reportedly scheduled to undergo an arthroscopic surgery Monday that will determine if more surgery is needed. The ankle has bothered Crosby since Las Vegas’ Week 2 game against the Baltimore Ravens, but his doctors are worried the injury is worse than previously believed.
Crosby being officially out is a rough setback for a team that was already done. The Raiders’ record sits at 2-11, despite Crosby being tied for the NFL lead in tackles for loss with 17, to go with 7.5 sacks, 45 tackles and five passes defended. Per Pro Football Focus, he also ranks sixth in the league with 54 total pressures.
With the Raiders eliminated from playoff contention and in the race for the No. 1 pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, there was little reason to bring Crosby back even in a best-case scenario.
Crosby’s future with Las Vegas was a question at the NFL trade deadline and could continue to be this offseason, as he’s under contract for two more seasons and could fetch a haul of draft picks if the Raiders decide to commit to a youth movement. However, Raiders owner Mark Davis has done his best to dispel those whispers:
“We’re Not Trading Maxx Crosby,” Davis said in an email to ESPN. “Before Or After The Trade Deadline!!!”
That probably won’t be enough to stop the speculation this offseason.
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