Maxx

Crosby

Mayer has been sidelined since injuring his ankle in Week 12 against the Browns. Raiders head coach Pete Carroll said he expects rookie WR Jack Bech to be more involved with Thornton, a fellow rookie, sidelined this week. Thornton has caught just 8-of-25 targets for 123 yards this season, though, so his absence in the passing game is hardly significant. Bech should not be started against the Broncos’ elite defense. Raiders EDGE Maxx Crosby (knee) is active, as expected.

Crosby has not practiced in either of the last two sessions of the week and will likely get a questionable tag when the report drops later. As Vegas’ best (only?) good defensive player at this point, Crosby being ruled out would be big fantasy news for the Broncos’ prospects in Week 14.

Crosby was limited on Wednesday with a knee injury — it’s not his first rodeo on the knee listing this season. He’s probably not in much danger of missing Sunday’s game against the Broncos just yet, as he’s been something of an iron man outside of last season, but it is something we’ll be monitoring on Friday.

Crosby practiced fully on Friday, restoring faith in the Raiders D/ST unit. Browns rookie QB Shedeur Sanders will make his first career start and Crosby and Co. this weekend. Sanders notched a 20.0 percent pressure-to-sack rate on 21 dropbacks in Week 11.

Crosby typically plays through injuries, famously having dealt with a bursa injury in one of his knees during the 2023 season. His Friday participation level is worth monitoring, with the Raiders D/ST unit profiling as a high-upside bunch against the Browns this weekend. Rookie QB Shedeur Sanders will make his first NFL start. If Crosby is unable to play, it would somewhat hurt the Raiders D/ST’s outlook.

Crosby has been on the perennial trade block with the Raiders’ struggles to become a competitive team. Las Vegas sits at 2-5 in a difficult AFC West division, leading to further speculation about a Crosby trade and reports the Cowboys inquired about the 28-year-old. However, Pelissero reports the Raiders told Crosby he isn’t being shopped despite interest and that Crosby would like to stay with the Raiders. The four-time Pro-Bowler has 63.5 sacks in 102 career games thus far and looks to be staying in Vegas for now.

This is both not a typical source for us to use and something that we doubt comes to fruition without Crosby asking out of Las Vegas, but it is clear that the Cowboys are big-game hunting to replace Micah Parsons. They do have a first-round pick war chest, so nothing can be ruled out. We anticipate the Cowboys will likely have to settle for some more marginal upgrades, but then again, we’d also have anticipated that they’d just keep Parsons.

Rapoport notes that the decision to pull Crosby from the game was “more of a precaution than anything.” In a non-competitive game that the Raiders lost 31-0, there was little reason for the Raiders to force their star pass-rusher back onto the field after he exited in the second quarter. The Raiders now enter a Week 8 bye and will return in Week 9 to face the Jaguars. It sounds like Crosby will have a good chance to return after a week of rest.

Crosby exited in the second quarter with a knee injury and could be seen on the sidelines receiving treatment from trainers. Crosby seldom takes plays off or misses games, so it’s safe to assume this as a somewhat serious injury to the star pass rusher and it wouldn’t be surprising if the team opted to sideline him with a Week 8 bye coming up.

This is, unfortunately, a new injury for the Raiders’ stalwart pass rusher and he appears to have suffered it in practice. He should be considered questionable to play in Week 5 against the Colts. It would be impossible for the Raiders to replace his productivity if he is ruled out. Crosby ranks and/or ties for first on the team in quarterback pressures (16), sacks (two) and tackles (eight).