Maxx Crosby, the dauntless pass-rusher of the Raiders, is no stranger to playing through pain. Following the end of the 2023 NFL season, Crosby didn't waste time before addressing his knee issue with surgery, a testament to his resilience.
As reported by NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Crosby underwent knee surgery to fix an injury he had been dealing with since Week 2 of the 2023 campaign. And if the picture Crosby posted post-surgery is any indication, we can say the procedure was successful.
However, the offseason won't just be about knee recovery for this Eastern Michigan product. According to Grant Gordon of NFL.com, Crosby announced on his podcast that he'll also be going under the knife for thumb surgery, all in preparation for the 2024 season.
Despite these surgical setbacks, Crosby's performance on the field remains undeterred. He appeared in all 17 games for the Raiders this season, finishing with impressive stats: 90 tackles, a league-leading 23 tackles for loss, a career-best 14.5 sacks, two forced fumbles, two passes defended, and one fumble recovery. Consequently, he earned his third straight Pro Bowl nod and led the league in tackles for loss for the second consecutive season.
Crosby's durability is one of his defining attributes. In fact, he hasn't missed a regular-season game since being selected by the Raiders with a fourth-round pick in the 2019 NFL draft. Based on his mid-January surgery's timeframe, it's likely that Crosby will be ready to hit the ground running at the start of the 2024 campaign.
The question that now remains is who will be coaching Crosby in Las Vegas. Interim coach Antonio Pierce, who led the team to a 5-4 record in the final nine games after Josh McDaniels' departure, seems to have made a positive impact on the players. According to reports by Rapoport and Tom Pelissero, Crosby even stated that he would explore a trade request if Pierce isn't retained. However, as of Wednesday, Las Vegas has yet to decide on its coaching future.
With all eyes on Crosby's recovery and the coaching decision, the Raiders' offseason is shaping up to be an intriguing one. Stay tuned for more updates on Crosby and the Raiders.
