The Las Vegas Raiders and New York Giants meet in Week 17 with significant draft implications at stake, as the losing side would be in a prime position for the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Both teams are also expected to be without key contributors, with injury concerns cited as the reason for holding players out.
On December 26, the Raiders decided to keep Maxx Crosby sidelined against the Giants due to a knee injury, according to a report from NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport.
Crosby reportedly wanted to suit up, but the team chose to err on the side of caution. Given his reputation for playing through pain and competing at full throttle, the decision reflects a rare moment where restraint overruled instinct.
Despite Crosby wanting to be on the field, The Athletic’s Ted Nguyen believes Las Vegas made the right decision by thinking long-term.
“Totally get Maxx’s mindset, but the Raiders have been through this song and dance (winning meaningless games and losing opportunity to draft QB) too many times,” Nguyen wrote on December 26 on X.
Pete Carroll Talks Maxx Crosby Decision From the Raiders
Nonetheless, according to multiple reports, Crosby was unhappy with the decision, as he wanted to play in the contest against the Giants.
He left the Raiders’ facility after getting the news. Moreover, head coach Pete Carroll said the team will shut the star pass rusher down for the rest of the season, but isn’t upset with Crosby’s response.
“No, matter of fact, I anticipated it all the way throughout,” Carroll said of Crosby’s reaction on Friday. “… He’s just been fighting his (expletive) off the whole time; he’s positioned himself implcably. As good a competitor as you can be. You can’t battle more than he’s battled.”
Maxx Crosby Had No Interest in Tanking
Earlier in the week, Crosby was asked about the tanking talk surrounding this game. Both teams could have the inside track to landing the No. 1 pick next year, but the veteran pass rusher had no interest in the draft implications and only wanted to go out and play.
“I don’t give a sh– about the pick,” Crosby told reporters on December 23. “To be honest, I don’t play for that. That’s not my job. My job is to be the best defensive end in the world, and that’s what I focus on every day: Being a great leader, being an influence, and being that guy on a consistent basis for my team.
“That’s their job. That’s the front office; the coaches do that. But that’s got nothing to do with me. I’ve learned that lesson in the past. You can’t control everything. And that’s not my job description. My job is to be the best in the world at what I do, and that’s wrecking the game.”
It will be interesting to see if both sides can mend fences in the offseason. Nonetheless, there’s a possibility the relationship between the two sides could be strained, leading to a trade, as the Raiders need to enter full rebuild mode.
Still, if the Raiders do get the top spot in next year’s draft and have the opportunity to draft Indiana Hoosiers quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who has yet to declare for the NFL, then it will be worth shutting down all their best players.
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