What's already been a disastrous season for the Las Vegas Raiders may be getting worse, as there seems to be a growing rift between the team and star defensive end Maxx Crosby.
Jay Glazer of Fox Sports reported on Friday that the Raiders and Crosby are in disagreement about whether he should play in the season's final two games.
"Raiders told Maxx Crosby they want to shut him down last two games," Glazer reported on X, formerly Twitter. "Crosby, who has played with injuries for much of the year, vehemently disagreed and has left the building @nflonfox has learned. This could lead to questions on his future in Vegas."
It's easy enough to see where the Raiders are coming from. At 2-13, they've long been eliminated from the postseason race. Both of their remaining opponents, the New York Giants and Kansas City Chiefs, are also out of contention. So, the only thing really on the line in those games is draft position. That's especially true for the Week 17 matchup against the Giants, which could easily decide the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. So, it's easy to see why they would want to be cautious with Crosby, especially if he's dealing with injuries.
That said, it's also easy to understand Crosby's position. It's also notable that (per Spotrac), Crosby has a $46,000 "Per Game Active Bonus." So, sitting him could potentially deprive him of $92,000. That could potentially create a fight between the NFLPA and the Raiders.
If nothing else, if there's growing tension between Crosby and the team, it certainly opens the door for one of the NFL's best pass rushers to be available on the trade market in the offseason.