'F--ked Me Up,' Raiders' Eric Stokes Sounds Off on Maxx Crosby Injury Drama

Maxx Crosby wasn't the only Las Vegas Raiders player upset with the decision to shut him down ahead of Week 17.

Cornerback Eric Stokes also disagreed with the Raiders' decision to stop Crosby from playing in the final two games of the season due to a knee injury he'd been playing through since Week 5, per ESPN's Kalyn Kahler and Ryan McFadden.

"It definitely f---ed me up… I'm sorry," Stokes told ESPN. "I know the type of guy Maxx is. He really wanted to play. He's given everything he has to this organization."

The Raiders said in a statement the decision to shut down Crosby had been made "in the best interest of both the franchise and the player."

Former Raiders head coach Pete Carroll told reporters Crosby left the team facility after being told he wouldn't play the final two games of the season, per McFadden.

"I agree with him 1,000 percent on how he responded, and I [would have] responded the same way," Carroll said.

Crosby ultimately finished his fifth straight Pro Bowl season having recorded 10.0 sacks and 28 tackles for loss in 15 games.

The Raiders lost their last two games without Crosby, ending the season on a nine-game losing streak and securing the top pick in the 2026 NFL draft.

That might not be much of a consolation for Crosby, who previously said he didn't "give a s--t" about the Raiders' draft position.

According to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport, Crosby is now expected to undergo "a meniscus trim on his knee" and is expected to make a "quick recovery."

The Raiders have already committed to four more years with Crosby after signing him to a three-year, $106.5 million extension with $91.5 million guaranteed that kicks in ahead of the 2027 season.

The Las Vegas front office, including whoever is ultimately hired to replace Carroll following the former head coach's dismissal, will likely hope to smooth out any tension with their star defender in order to ensure Crosby returns for an eighth season with the franchise.