Maxx Crosby’s future with the Las Vegas Raiders remains in flux, but that’s not the only question mark with him. The team decided to shut him down with two games left in the season due to an injury, but it wasn’t clear exactly what was wrong with him and how long it would take for him to recover.
With the Raiders being done playing for a couple of weeks now, Crosby has given more insight into his injury. He revealed what exactly he had to get surgery on and when he’s planning to get back on the practice field.
“It’s what we expected. I tore my meniscus. I knew that a long time ago,” Crosby said on the “Let’s Go!” podcast. “It’s gonna be a good recovery, but I’ll be back same timetable as we expected originally. So we’ll be good, we’ll be ready to rock. Should be back middle-to-end of OTAs. … Expecting 100% recovery. Everything is gonna be great.”
The fact that he’s expecting to return for OTAs is a good sign. That will give him plenty of time to practice with the new coaching staff before training camp boots up if he does end up staying with the Raiders.
Will Crosby Be on the Raiders in 2026?
The Raiders tried to avoid going through a rebuild last offseason, which is why they hired Pete Carroll. That was a mistake in hindsight, and the coach has already been fired.
One thing the team did last offseason was extend Crosby’s contract. There has been some chatter that he might request a trade, but the Raiders have some leverage.
If the team truly wants to embrace a rebuild, trading Crosby would get them at least one first-round pick, and probably two. Now, he’s the leader of the team and the face of the franchise. It’s hard to imagine they’d want to trade him unless he specifically asks for it. If he likes the head coach hire and the direction the Raiders are going in, he’ll likely continue being on the team going forward.
Crosby Needs Help
If the Raiders got Crosby some help on the defensive line, that would go a long way in convincing him to stick around. The team tried pairing him with Yannick Ngakoue, but that only lasted one season.
They then used a top-10 pick on Tyree Wilson, who hasn’t been a consistent pass rusher for the team. Two offseasons ago, they signed Christian Wilkins to see if an interior pass rusher could be what Crosby needs, but he also only lasted a season.
Malcolm Koonce didn’t prove to be a good running mate this season, so the Raiders will likely be in the market for another pass rusher. Philadelphia Eagles defensive end Jaelan Phillips is a potential free agent who could make a lot of sense for the Raiders. He’s not an elite pass rusher, but he’s a solid defensive end, and he’s only 26. Cincinnati Bengals defensive end Trey Hendrickson would be a perfect player to pair with Crosby, but he’s 31, so he might be older than what the team is looking for.
Raiders DE Maxx Crosby Reveals Important Update on Current Status