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 where he requires surgery, hours after ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported he would be going 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 won’t be playing for the rest of the season. Second time this year I’ve been rolled on the same ankle and now surgery will be required. As much as it pains me not to go to war with my brothers and for the fans, I truly believe that everything happens for a reason. I have absolutely no regrets about my process, my approach and my discipline in this game.
Instead of sitting for over a month with my first high ankle sprain in Baltimore, I missed just one 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 blocked from the side and got another one, but this time even worse against Tampa. Some people will say that I should just take my time, relax and prepare for next year; I will never be that kind of person. I have a team around me that made it possible for me to come back and still disrupt even though I really wasn’t completely healthy all year.
I will be in the fire no matter the circumstances because this game is my life. If I get a pulse, I expect to play in front of the fans who spend their hard-earned money to see me perform and wear my jersey every Sunday. I do it because it means the world to me and I will never change my approach to this game. While I don’t understand why this happens, I truly believe that everything happens for a reason. I can feel bad about myself and make excuses, but I fucking refuse.
I will go through this surgery and be on the warpath for greatness every day and get back to being the best version of myself. I really believe deep in my soul that I am changing the game step by step and changing the way this position is viewed. If you don’t believe me, if you have doubts, if you think I should chill, GOOD…just LOOK at me. 🦅💎 #Boundless
Crosby will reportedly undergo arthroscopic surgery on Monday that will determine whether more surgeries are needed. Crosby has been bothering his ankle since Las Vegas’ Week 2 game against the Baltimore Ravens, but his doctors are concerned the injury is worse than previously thought.
The fact that Crosby is officially out is a major setback for a team that was already ready. The Raiders’ record stands 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. He also ranks sixth in the league with 54 total pressures, according to Pro Football Focus.
With the Raiders eliminated from the playoffs and in the race for the No. 1 pick of the 2025 NFL Draft, there was little incentive to bring Crosby back, even in the best-case scenario.
Crosby’s future with Las Vegas was a question at the NFL trade deadline and could remain this offseason as he is under contract for two more seasons and could land a slew of draft picks if the Raiders decide to to contribute to a youth movement. However, Raiders owner Mark Davis has done his best to dispel those whispers:
“We do not trade Maxx Crosby,” Davis said in an email to ESPN. “Before or after the trade deadline!!!”
That probably won’t be enough to stop speculation this season.
