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The Las Vegas Raiders will be without their two best players in a game that will determine who gets the rights to the No. 1 overall pick next April.
The New York Giants head west on Sunday in a battle between two 2-13 teams – Big Blue currently has the No. 1 pick but would lose it to the Raiders if they win.
Raiders tight end Brock Bowers was placed on injured reserve earlier this week, ending his season. A few days later, defensive end Maxx Crosby was scratched with a nagging knee injury.
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Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) looks on from the sideline during the first quarter against the Chicago Bears at Allegiant Stadium. (Kiyoshi Mio/Imagn Images)
Crosby, who said earlier this week that he “didn’t care” about the No. 1 pick, then left the team facility because he disagreed 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 the star defensive end for the team’s final two games of the regular season, but Crosby “vehemently disagreed” with the idea and left the facility. Crosby, a Pro Bowler in each of the last five seasons, played in each of the Raiders’ 15 games this season and recorded 10.0 sacks.
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. The Las Vegas Raiders won in overtime. (Michael Owens/Getty Images)
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“I don’t play for that. My job is to be the best defensive end in the world,” Crosby told reporters Tuesday.
“That’s what I focus on every day, being a great leader, having an influence and being that guy consistently for my team. The front office, the coaches, they do that. But that has nothing to do with me. I’ve learned that lesson in the past, you can’t control everything. That’s not my job description, my job is to be the best in the world at what I do.”
The No. 1 pick would give the Raiders a chance to select 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 franchise quarterback in Jaxson Dart, which would likely result in a trade if they held the pick.
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end 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)
The Giants and Raiders play Sunday at 4:05 p.m. ET.
