Near the end of a lost season, fresh drama has emerged in Las Vegas.
The Raiders have informed edge rusher Maxx Crosby that he will not play in Sunday's game against the New York Giants due to a knee injury he's been battling since October, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Friday, per sources. The team later announced the news.
The Raiders made the decision with Crosby's best interests in mind, though the Pro Bowler has been fighting to play, Rapoport added.
Typically, a game involving two cellar-dwelling clubs wouldn't matter much at this point in the season, but this isn't just any game. Both New York and Las Vegas own identical 2-13 records, and the loser of this contest would move into pole position for the No. 1 pick in April's draft.
It's an incentive Crosby couldn't care less about, telling reporters Tuesday, "I don't give a s--- about the pick, to be honest."
With two games left to play, it appears what Crosby cares about doesn't matter to the Raiders, which also opens the door to plenty of speculation regarding Crosby's future in Las Vegas, a place where job security is far from guaranteed for just about anyone not named Crosby.
In a challenging, if not demoralizing season, Crosby has fought to stay on the field and give the Raiders defense the effort and production for which Las Vegas handsomely pays him. In some contests, Crosby has been the only resistant force wearing Silver and Black, and despite dealing with the knee ailment, Crosby made some jaw-dropping stops in Week 16's loss to Houston, Las Vegas' most competitive showing in months.
Just when the Raiders might have been turning a late corner, it seems they're more interested in protecting Crosby's health -- and/or their chances of adding a blue-chip prospect to a roster that needs it. And that certainly doesn't jive with what Crosby said is his job: "To be the best in the world at what I do -- and that's wrecking the game."
Stay tuned to how this might unfold in the days and weeks ahead.
