Raiders defend Maxx Crosby IR decision as drama builds around move

The Las Vegas Raiders defended their determination to spot Maxx Crosby connected injured reserve to extremity the antiaircraft end’s play arsenic play bubbled astir his absorption and their upcoming crippled against the New York Giants.

The Raiders placed Crosby connected IR, which FOX Sports reported led to him leaving the team’s facility. The Raiders wanted to unopen the prima antiaircraft extremity down for the team’s last 2 games of the regular season, but Crosby "vehemently disagreed" with the thought and near the facility.

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Las Vegas Raiders antiaircraft extremity Maxx Crosby (98) reacts during the 2nd fractional astatine SoFi Stadium connected Nov. 30, 2025. (Kiyoshi Mio/Imagn Images)

On Saturday, the Raiders said their determination was champion for some the squad and Crosby.

"We person made the determination to spot Maxx Crosby connected the Reserve/Injured database for the remainder of the 2025 season," the squad said. "After deliberate and thorough consultation with aggregate apical aesculapian professionals, it became wide that this determination is successful the champion involvement of some the franchise and the player. Maxx is the eventual warrior, and helium has fought highly hard to vie each week with his teammates since injuring his genu mid-season.

"We are grateful for his bonzer contributions. He is simply a existent Raider connected and disconnected the tract — we look guardant to his enactment and toughness into 2026 and beyond."

Las Vegas Raiders antiaircraft tackle Jonah Laulu (96) and antiaircraft extremity Maxx Crosby (98) observe during the 2nd fractional of an NFL shot crippled against the Houston Texans, Sunday, Dec. 21, 2025, successful Houston.  (AP Photo/Ashley Landis)

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The Raiders and Giants volition conscionable successful what volition apt find who gets the No. 1 wide prime successful the 2026 NFL Draft. Both teams are 2-13 this season.

Crosby was asked astir the anticipation of getting the apical pick, but didn’t truly look to beryllium concerned.

"I don’t play for that. My occupation is to beryllium the champion antiaircraft extremity successful the world," Crosby told reporters Tuesday.

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"That’s what I absorption connected each day, and being a large leader, and being an influence, and being that feline connected a accordant ground for my team. The beforehand office, the coaches, they bash that. But that’s got thing to bash with me. I’ve learned that acquisition successful the past, you can’t power everything. That’s not my occupation description, my occupation is to beryllium the champion successful the satellite astatine what I do."

Fox News’ Ryan Morik and Ryan Canfield contributed to this report.

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