Maxx Crosby says he’s trying not to focus too much on the Davante Adams situation in Las Vegas.
After all, he said after the Raiders’ 34-18 loss to the Broncos on Sunday afternoon in Denver, it’s nothing new to him.
“You think I’m not used to all this happening? It is what it is. I’ve had to deal with it my entire career,” Crosby said. “It is what it is.”
Days after Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce appeared to publicly endorse the idea of trading Adams on social media, Adams subsequently told the team that he also prefers to be traded. The Raiders have reportedly reached out to teams to gauge “interest” in Adams.
Adams would reportedly prefer to play for the New York Jets or New Orleans Saints, although it is unclear how much progress, if any, has been made on a potential trade.
The wide receiver did not play on Sunday due to a hamstring injury. That injury, which is reportedly legitimate despite the questionable timing, is not expected to keep Adams out long-term.
Adams has 209 yards and a touchdown on 18 catches through three games this season, his third with the Raiders. The 31-year-old had 1,144 yards and eight touchdowns last season, marking his fourth straight year with at least 1,000 receiving yards. Adams is in the third year of a five-year, $140 million deal with the franchise.
“Davante is my boy,” Crosby said. “I love Davante, and he’s going to do what he’s going to do. I’m praying for him, wishing him the best… But we’re focused on the Raiders. We’re focused on who’s here now, and we’re focused on winning. We have to find ways to do that.”
The Adams situation is the latest dramatic issue facing Pierce and the Raiders this season. The coach called out his players for making “business decisions” after being blown out by the Carolina Panthers, and a day later doubled down on them, while mostly refusing to take any responsibility for his team’s problems. He eventually apologized for those comments, saying he “didn’t want to be a distraction in that way.”
However, the Raiders parted ways on Sunday. After Las Vegas went up 10-0, the Broncos rattled off 34 unanswered points en route to their 16-point win. The Raiders at one point benched starting quarterback Gardner Minshew II in favor of Aidan O’Connell, but Pierce declined to name a starter going forward. The loss ended an eight-game win streak over the Broncos.
Crosby returned to the field Sunday after missing last week with a high ankle sprain, the first game he missed due to injury in his career. He had three total tackles and two sacks.
Pierce refused to put himself in Adams’ situation at all ahead of Sunday’s game. But with how publicly things are playing out in Las Vegas, both with Adams’ trade request and otherwise, it’s hard to think this won’t have an impact.
