The Las Vegas Raiders are 1-3, and they’re trying to right the ship after a three-game losing streak. The injury gods aren’t exactly helping, however, with star defensive end Maxx Crosby being the latest key player to turn up on the injured list this week with a knee injury.
Crosby was added to the list as limited after not being on Wednesday’s list, according to Charean Williams of Pro Football Talk. The news isn’t a disaster, but Crosby will need all the mobility he can muster against Indianapolis Colts quarterback Daniel Jones, who is a serious rushing threat when he gets out of the pocket.
The injury news mirrors another tough injury in the offensive line, with left tackle Kolton Miller going on the IL with a hairline fracture of his ankle that Miller sustained during the Raiders loss to the Chicago Bears last week.
The Raiders don’t have a lot of depth on either line. GM John Spytek is currently in the process of reloading to fix a weak roster, and Las Vegas is already giving playing time to a lot of rookies from the current draft class.
There’s no replacing a guy like Crosby, either, if he has to miss any amount of time. Defensive linemen Malcolm Koonce and Adam Butler have had their moments, but Crosby is the star of the show when it comes to generating pressure.
Meanwhile, the Colts offensive line has been a strength so far. Running back Jonathan Taylor is averaging just over 100 yards a game on the ground, and Jones has been sacked just four times, which is a key stat that’s helped him mostly control his turnover tendencies to date.
Another item of note is the presence of tight end Brock Bowers on the list. Bowers tweaked his knee against the New England Patriots in the Raiders opening win, and he went from limited on Wednesday to a non-participant on Thursday. Last year he was one of the main weapons in the Raiders passing game, but so far he hasn’t been much of a factor at all.
Other items on the list included linebacker Brennan Jackson being downgraded to a non-participant due to a foot issue, and cornerback Eric Stokes was also limited due to a knee problem. Wide receiver Justin Shorter was limited after returning to practice following an illness.