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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 first overall pick next April.
The New York Giants will head west on Sunday in a battle between two teams 2 and 13: Big Blue currently holds the number one pick, but would lose it to the Raiders with a 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 listed as out with a lingering knee injury.
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Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby (98) watches from the sideline during the first quarter against the Chicago Bears at Allegiant Stadium. (Kiyoshi Mio/Image Images)
Crosby, who said earlier this week that he “didn’t give a shit” about the No. 1 pick, later left the team facility because he didn’t agree 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 during 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, has played in each of the Raiders’ 15 games this season and has recorded 10.0 sacks.
Maxx Crosby of the Las Vegas Raiders smells 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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“That’s not what I play for. My job is to be the best defensive end in the world,” Crosby told reporters Tuesday.
“That’s what I focus on every day, and being a great leader, and being 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 first overall 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 prompt a trade if they keep 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 at 4:05 pm ET on Sunday.
