When the Las Vegas Raiders take the field against the New York Giants in Week 17, they will be without two of their best players.
That's because edge rusher Maxx Crosby and tight end Brock Bowers were ruled out for the game and have been shut down for the rest of the 2025 campaign.
But what's the reason behind the Raiders ending the seasons of their star players early? Here's what we know.
Why Maxx Crosby isn't playing in Week 17
Crosby has been dealing with a knee injury all season long, so the Raiders decided to shut him down by placing him on injured reserve.
While Crosby's knee issue does require surgery, reports suggest he was capable of playing out the final two games. In fact, he was so keen on playing that Crosby left the team facility in frustration upon learning he would be shut down.
So, why would the Raiders shut him down if he's capable of playing?
Las Vegas is no doubt trying to protect Crosby from suffering a more serious issue that could impact him in 2026, but they are also shutting him down because it increases their chances of losing and improving their draft position.
That's crucial because the higher the Raiders are in the draft, the more likely they are to grab the top quarterback prospect in April, something this franchise desperately needs to do.
Las Vegas enters Week 17 in the No. 2 spot behind the New York Giants, but securing the No. 1 spot would ensure nobody can jump the Raiders for a quarterback.
Why Brock Bowers isn't playing in Week 17
Bowers has been shut down for the same reasons as Crosby.
He was battling a knee injury all season long and it made no sense to risk it with one of the future faces of the franchise, so Las Vegas put Bowers on IR.
And, again, sitting Bowers helps the Raiders tank in order to improve their draft positioning ahead of April.
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