The Las Vegas Raiders were already shorthanded heading into the Week 7 game against the Kansas City Chiefs, and things only got worse early. Star defensive end Maxx Crosby, who rarely misses a snap, was taken out of the game in the first half with back and knee injuries.
He had popped up on the injury report before the game, but it didn’t seem like anything serious. It’s clear now that he wasn’t 100%. Following the 31-0 blowout loss to the Chiefs, head coach Pete Carroll admitted that the knee was bothering Crosby before the game.
Chiefs tight end Noah Gray hit Crosby with a low block, and that’s what ended up knocking him out. The Raiders are now heading into the bye week, but Crosby’s status will be something to watch.
He didn’t miss a game in any of his first five seasons, but missed five games last year and could miss time this year. He’s as tough as they come, but his body isn’t holding up the same way it did in the past. It doesn’t help that the Raiders keep losing, so his playing through injury is pointless. If he’s still not 100% after the bye week, the team may want to consider keeping him out.
Is It Possible Crosby Has Played Last Raiders Game?
It’s obvious that the Raiders have a better chance of getting the No. 1 pick than getting to the playoffs this season. They aren’t a good team, and it doesn’t look like they will be anytime soon.
It seemed like it would be impossible for this to happen before the season started, but there’s a real chance that Carroll is one and done as the head coach. The Raiders need to embrace a complete rebuild and start from scratch.
Crosby is their most valuable asset. He means a lot to the team, but they are failing him right now. If the Raiders are going to rebuild, there really isn’t any reason to keep a player like Crosby. The trade deadline is coming up, and there should be plenty of NFL teams willing to pay a premium for the star defensive end.
If there’s a team out there that offers two first-round picks for Crosby, it’s something the Raiders have to consider.
Things Get Easier After Bye Week
The Raiders have had a tough schedule to start the season. The schedule gets easier fresh out of the bye. They get to play a Jacksonville Jaguars team that just got embarrassed by the Los Angeles Rams.
The Denver Broncos are the following week, and they haven’t looked as good as many expected. The Dallas Cowboys might have the worst defense in the NFL, and they play the week after, and then it’s a bad Cleveland Browns team.
It’s not impossible that the Raiders are able to go 2-2 or better in that stretch. At that point, it probably does more harm than good, but Carroll isn’t in the business of losing. Getting the Raiders to five or six wins likely keeps him safe for at least one more season.
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