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Maxx Crosby’s farewell to the Las Vegas Raiders may have been premature. On Tuesday, the Ravens opted out of a trade that would have brought the star passer to Baltimore for multiple draft picks.
“The Baltimore Ravens have opted out of our trade deal for Maxx Crosby,” the Raiders said in a statement. “We will make no further comment at this time.” ESPN, citing league sources, reported that the Ravens’ decision centered on medical issues that surfaced during Crosby’s physical. Trades in the NFL depend on players passing a physical exam.
The sudden turnaround sparked a strong reaction from Crosby’s wife, Rachel, who defended her husband and pushed back on claims about his knee recovery.
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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 on September 28, 2025. (Kiyoshi Mio/Imagn Images)
In an Instagram Stories post, Rachel shared a tweet from Crosby’s agent stating that the defensive end remains “on track” in his recovery from a knee injury.
“Maxx continues to be on track in his recovery and if anything is ahead of schedule, according to his surgeon, Dr. Neal ElAttrache,” CJ LaBoy wrote. “Maxx remains on track to return during the offseason program and will undoubtedly return as the dominant game destroyer he has been the past 7 seasons.”
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Rachel echoed LaBoy’s comments, adding, “Say it louder,” along with a pair of clapping emojis. The NFL star later shared the tweet on his social media platform.
Crosby underwent surgery in January to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee. Despite learning his knee would require offseason surgery, Crosby continued to play through his injury, according to reports. The Raiders shut down Crosby during the latter part of the 2025 season, a move that appeared to frustrate the five-time Pro Bowler.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) stands on the field after a loss against the Philadelphia Eagles at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania on December 14, 2025. (Eric Hartline/Imagn Images)
Dr. Neal ElAttrache, Crosby’s surgeon, provided an update last week on the 28-year-old’s recovery.
“Maxx Crosby is doing very well early in his rehabilitation and recovery from surgery to treat a significant meniscus tear and associated stress injuries to the bone and cartilage in his knee. He is certainly on track in his planned program… he feels great and is already much improved from before the surgery,” ElAttrache told ESPN.
He also acknowledged the challenges the Ravens’ medical staff faces in assessing future risks, particularly given Crosby’s stage in the recovery process.
“We truly respect the Ravens staff’s work with Maxx regarding the contract physical. We also understand the challenge the staff faces when tasked with providing an assessment of future risk based on an assessment early in the recovery process. This is particularly difficult when dealing with an elite player like Maxx, given the level of commitment necessary for a team to obtain it. The timing of this assessment is unfortunate because the apparent risk will diminish as his recovery progresses and that his return to performance over the coming months will become clear.”
Maxx Crosby of the Las Vegas Raiders sniffs smelling salts during an NFL game between the Las Vegas Raiders and the Denver Broncos at Empower Field At Mile High on November 20, 2022 in Denver, Colorado. (Michael Owens/Getty Images)
Crosby and the Raiders reached an agreement on a three-year extension last March.
free agent defensive end Trey Hendrickson
