The Las Vegas Raiders enter Week 12 as a massive underdog against the powerhouse Kansas City Chiefs. The idea of knocking off their divisional foe just got that much more challenging on Friday, with star pass rusher Maxx Crosby being listed as doubtful by the Raiders, per Tom Pelissero.
#Raiders star DE Maxx Crosby (knee) is listed as doubtful for Sunday's game against the #Chiefs.
— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) November 24, 2023
Crosby has dealt with a knee injury since early November but has not missed a game. However, he failed to practice in any capacity in preparation for Sunday’s tilt.
Maxx Crosby: Superstar with the Las Vegas Raiders
Maxx Crosby, a fourth-round selection in the 2019 NFL draft, has played his entire five-year career with the Las Vegas Raiders. The Eastern Michigan product immediately made an impact, posting 47 tackles, 16 TFLs, 10 sacks, and four forced fumbles. He finished second in NFL AP Defensive Rookie of the Year voting behind San Francisco 49ers defensive end Nick Bosa. After a solid 2020 campaign, Crosby earned his first All-Pro and Pro-Bowl recognition in 2021, tallying eight sacks and 13 TFLs. However, his 2022 season remains his best, collecting a career-best 12.5 sacks and a league-high 22 TFLs.
Crosby is in danger of missing his first NFL regular season game on Sunday. His production will surely be missed, with the 26-year-old already having 10.5 sacks for the year. Malik Reed sits behind Crosby on the depth chart. However, he has had two tackles this season. Reed’s best years came with the Denver Broncos from 2019-2021, registering 15 sacks during that span. He had just one sack in 14 games with the Pittsburgh Steelers last year.
Patrick Mahomes: Ready to Light Up the Las Vegas Secondary on Sunday
The Las Vegas defense has played well this season, especially under interim head coach Antonio Pierce, allowing 20.5 points per game, the 13th-best mark in the NFL. However, without star defender Maxx Crosby, the Raiders could have trouble pressuring the passer. That’s a sour recipe for success when they square off against two-time NFL MVP quarterback Patrick Mahomes on Sunday.
Mahomes has struggled to post elite numbers this season, with 19 touchdowns against nine picks, pacing his worst numbers since becoming Kansas City’s starter in 2018. However, Mahomes has diced up the Raiders during his career. Entering Week 12, he is 9-1 against Las Vegas while throwing 27 touchdowns to three picks. The two-time Super Bowl champ could post a monster stat line in Week 12.
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