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Las Vegas Raiders will be without its two best players in a game that will determine who will earn the No. 1 overall pick next April.
New York Giants will head west on Sunday in a battle between the two teams 2 and 13 – Big Blue currently owns the No. 1 pick but would give it up to the Raiders if they win.
Raiders tight end Brock Bowers was placed on injured reserve earlier this week, ending his season. Days later, defenseman Maxx Crosby was ruled out of the game with a serious knee injury.
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Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) watches from the sidelines during the first quarter against the Chicago Bears at Allegiant Stadium. (Kiyoshi Mio/Imagn Images)
Crosby, who said earlier this week that he don't give a damn No. 1 pick, then left the team because he was unhappy with his status for the rest of the year, according to Fox Sports NFL reporter Jay Glazer.
Glazer said the Raiders wanted to shut down a star defensive line for the team's final two games of the regular season, but Crosby “strongly disagree” With this idea I left the institution. Crosby, a Pro Bowler in each of the last five seasons, has played in each of the Raiders' 15 games this season and has recorded 10.0 sacks.
Max Crosby of the Las Vegas Raiders snorts smelling salts during the NFL game between the Las Vegas Raiders and Denver Broncos at Empower Field at Mile High on November 20, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. The Las Vegas Raiders won in overtime. (Michael Owens/Getty Images)
“That's not why I play. My job is to be the best defender in the world,” Crosby told reporters on Tuesday.
“That’s what I focus on every day: being a great leader, making an impact and constantly being that guy for my team. The front office, the coaches, they do it. But this has nothing to do with me. I've learned this lesson in the past: you can't control everything. It's not part of my job description, my job is to be the best in the world at what I do.”
The No. 1 overall pick would give the Raiders a chance to draft the best quarterback in the class as Geno Smith doesn't appear to be the long-term answer.
The Giants appear to have found their quarterback in Jackson Dart, which will likely involve a trade if they retain the pick.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive back Maxx Crosby (98) reacts during the second half of an NFL football game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Las Vegas, Sunday, Oct. 13, 2024. (AP Photo/David Becker)
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The Giants and Raiders play Sunday at 4:05 p.m. ET.
Fox News' Ryan Canfield contributed to this report.
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