The Raiders were a botched trade away from not having Maxx Crosby this year, but unless something crazy happens, Crosby is going to continue building his Hall of Fame resume with the only team he has ever played for.
By all accounts, Crosby’s knee is on track to be at or near 100 percent by the start of the season, and based on reports from training camp, he has been as dominant as ever in practices.
Sports Illustrated insider Hondo Carpenter talked about Crosby on Wednesday and he believes the Raiders’ All-Pro pass rusher is on a mission to make a statement to the Ravens and anyone who doubted him.
“He’s unblockable and I think he’s on a mission,” Carpenter said on the Las Vegas Raiders Insider podcast.
“I don’t think [the Ravens] regret [backing out of the trade] at all because I don’t think you do what they did if that’s part of your compass. Feeling bad. In my opinion it was dishonest what they did. I’m glad for the Raiders that they did it. I think he’s out to make them look stupid. I’m just telling you Maxx doesn’t need motivation.”
Raiders’ offense line has “no real chance” against Crosby
As the team has moved Crosby’s knee along with caution, he hasn’t had his usual opportunities to face the Raiders’ offensive line, but it sounds like when he does, the battles in the trenches haven’t been particularly fair.
“Anytime that Maxx is able to go full reps and the offensive line has no semblance of holding, there’s no real chance for the offensive line,” The Athletic’s Sam Warren said on the Just Win podcast.
“I don’t think that has anything to say about the Raiders offensive line. It has more to say about Maxx Crosby. Maxx has looked really good in training camp. I haven’t seen too much of a worry about his knee or anything like that.”
In July, Gerald McCoy said Crosby is going into the 2026 season “pissed off”
“Maxx Crosby has a point to prove. He’s a little pissed off,” McCoy said on the Rich Eisen Show.
“Actually, he’s a lot of pissed off. I was just with Maxx in Vegas. He has a point to prove and Maxx is extremely upset and he’s going to have these guys on the mission.”
To that, Eisen followed up and asked McCoy who Crosby is upset with.
“He loves the Raiders, for one,” McCoy answered.
“But he was traded. Okay. Then he was given back. So it’s almost like they saying, ‘We don’t really need you, but we need you.’ And then the other team is saying, ‘You just kind of lost a step. We don’t really trust it.’ Maxx is out to prove a point. I’m Maxx Crosby for a reason and he’s going to bring the guys with him.”
x: @raidersbeat
We are gonna lose him cuz Spytek can’t build a team
hes unblockable every year in our practices because we suck on o line
Not surprised. Maxx is elite practicing against garbage.
Maxx is one of the best at what he does. The only thing that can get in the way is his body. No need to bad mouth anyone.