Raiders’ Star Maxx Crosby Pops Up on Injury Report vs. Chiefs
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Las Vegas Raiders' star pass rusher Maxx Crosby popped up on the injury report.
Just a few days before Sunday’s clash against the Kansas City Chiefs, Las Vegas Raiders’ star pass rusher Maxx Crosby unexpectedly had his name pop up on the injury report due to a back injury.
Crosby, who was not on the injury report until Friday, does not have a game status for Sunday’s game.
#Raiders DE Maxx Crosby was added to the injury report. He was limited with a back injury but doesn’t have a game status.
Maxx Crosby x Patrick Mahomes
GettyPatrick Mahomes #15 of the Kansas City Chiefs hugs Maxx Crosby #98 of the Las Vegas Raiders.
Everyone knows how important Crosby is for the Raiders, and if he isn’t a full go on Sunday, it’s going to be extremely difficult to stop Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs.
Mahomes commented on his rivalry with Crosby, saying, “A ton of respect.”
“When I talk to him outside of football, it’s like we’re friends,” Mahomes added. “You wouldn’t even see what happens on the football field. But he’s the type of competitor like me. When you get on the football field, it’s whatever it takes to win and you’re going to leave everything on the football field. I have a ton of respect for that.”
Crosby also shared his thoughts on Mahomes in the latest episode of The Silver and Black Show:
“He’s one of the greatest to do it, period. …He’s an incredible competitor, an incredible player, and I feel like we have a special relationship because we’re very similar in many ways when it comes to being obsessed with winning and that competitive nature when you refuse to lose. He’s one of those guys, so every time we see each other, we’re both on that same page for sure.”
Mahomes has the Raiders’ number, with a 27:4 touchdown to interception ratio in games against the Raiders since Crosby joined the team back in 2019.
Knowing Crosby, he’ll likely be on the field Sunday, even with the recent back injury, but it’s a long shot for another star player on the Raiders.
Brock Bowers Slated to Miss His Third Game in a Row
GettyBrock Bowers #89 of the Las Vegas Raiders.
Some more unfortunate news for the Raiders is that star tight end Brock Bowers will likely miss his third straight game with a knee injury.
Bowers returned to practice on Friday in a limited capacity, but is listed as doubtful to play Sunday against the Chiefs.
Bowers commented on returning to practice, saying, “It felt good to get back out there with the guys, being at practice, just feeling better.” He was then asked his thoughts on potentially playing on Sunday.
“Yeah, definitely thought about it, we’ll see.” Bowers added that it’ll likely be a game-time decision, but the feeling is that the Raiders’ coaching staff would prefer to rest him and have him at full speed after the bye week.
It’s going to be a tough matchup against the Chiefs on Sunday, and it’ll only be harder to win if Crosby and Bowers aren’t on the field for the Silver and Black.
Analysts are starting to see what Raiders fans already knew about Geno Smith
The Las Vegas Raiders have not had a great start to the 2025 NFL season, as they sit at 2-4 after beating the Tennessee Titans in Week 6. It marked their first victory since the season opener, snapping a losing skid that lasted for over a month.
Many of their issues have had to do with an underwhelming offense and the struggles of Geno Smith. He has cost the Raiders two games alone with three-interception performances. Turnovers have been a major problem for the veteran quarterback, as he leads the league with ten interceptions.
While Las Vegas' coaching staff's faith in Smith has not wavered, it is clear that the franchise should be in the market for its quarterback of the future this offseason. An NFL analyst recently made a claim about his future that will not surprise Raiders fans in the slightest.
NFL analyst makes a prediction on Geno Smith's future that is not surprising to Raiders fans
The Raiders' offseason trade to land Smith was largely met with positive reviews. The move has not paid off, however, as he has been among the worst quarterbacks in the league through six games. Bleacher Report's Brad Gagnon labeled him as one of the players with the most to prove over the remainder of the season.
"The 35-year-old has his work cut out for him trying to prove he isn't just a bridge quarterback for a team that may target a signal-caller in the first round of next year's draft, but he's done an abysmal job for one of the league's lowest-scoring teams," Gagnon wrote.
Gagnon does not believe Smith will be able to turn things around and predicted that he is in his final year as an NFL starter.
"Injuries have been a factor, but that alone doesn't get Smith off the hook," Gagnon wrote. "He's only been an average starter the last two-and-a-half years and is living off an aberrational standout 2022 campaign in Seattle. I doubt we will see him in a regular starting role again after 2025."
RELATED: Michael Mayer said what every Raiders fan needed to hear about Geno Smith
Raiders fans are certainly not shocked by the prediction, as some have already called for the team to make a quarterback change. While it appears unlikely that Smith will be benched, it is apparent that he should not be in the team's long-term plans.
In addition to leading the league in interceptions, he ranks 16th in passing yards per game, tied for 21st in touchdowns, 20th in completion percentage, 31st in passer rating and 27th in quarterback rating. Cam Ward is the only player who has played all six games and thrown fewer touchdowns than Smith.
Although he has a relationship with head coach Pete Carroll that dates back to their time with the Seattle Seahawks, the quarterback has not looked the same in 2025. The more he struggles, the higher Las Vegas' chances of drafting his replacement become.
While it is unclear who will be under center for the Raiders in 2026, most fans would agree with Gagnon's assessment that it should not be Smith.
