Maxx Crosby Shuts Down Rumors Surrounding His Injury

NFL defensive end Maxx Crosby of the Las Vegas Raiders was absent from the Las Vegas Raiders’ recent matchup against the Cleveland Browns because of a high-ankle sprain. Crosby was selected by the Raiders in the fourth round of the 2019 NFL draft. His recent absence led former Browns general manager Michael Lombardi to imply that there might be a “disconnect” between Crosby and head coach Antonio Pierce.

“That bothers me,” former Browns general manager Michael Lombardi said. “That tells me there’s something going on in the locker room. There seems to be more than one disconnect. Crosby has always been the team guy, but when he doesn’t show up to a game, that tells me something without knowing something.”

In response, Crosby criticized Lombardi, calling him a “clown” for speculating about his absence without knowing the situation.

“Then I have to hear these clowns talking online and talking on The Pat McAfee Show saying something is going on,” Crosby said. “These clowns are sitting on a couch talking about what I should be doing. When the reality is I’m gaining yardage and trying to get right so I can get back on the field. Everyone knows my intentions, but they try to speak for me.”

Crosby clarified that he stayed home to focus on rehabilitation, as the team believed it was best for his recovery.

“But don’t speak about me when you don’t know what’s going on and you’re speaking for me or speaking about the organization. ‘Oh, something must be going on with Maxx.’ Come on, bro. You know where I want to be. You think I want to be anywhere else? No. I have this (expletive) tatted on my body. I don’t want to go anywhere.”

He expressed his frustration at not being able to support his teammates in person. “Bro, I’m not going to lie to you. I was probably the most stressed I’ve ever been since I’ve been in the league just sitting there at the crib,” Crosby said. “As much as I wanted to be there, and AP wanted me to be there at the game – I’m trying to get back on the field ASAP – they thought it was in my best interest and in the team’s best interest for me to rehab and get my feet up and game ready and ice during the game at the crib because I’m a maniac.”

“I’m going to be running up and down the sideline. I can’t help myself. So they’re like, take your a– home, stay at home. So I cleared out everybody, nobody was there besides me and my dog at my crib. So I had my man cave and I was locked in screaming at the TV for four hours,” he added.

Crosby returned in Week 5, recording two sacks against the Denver Broncos, though the Raiders still lost the game.