Maxx Crosby's Teammates 'Mesmerized' by His 'Explosive' Return After Injury, Raiders Trade Buzz

Any potential concerns about Maxx Crosby's knee being a hindrance to his on-field performance haven't shown up so far in Las Vegas Raiders training camp.

Per ESPN's Ryan McFadden, some Raiders players have been "mesmerized" by how "explosive" he has looked in camp after not being able to participate in the offseason program while rehabbing his knee:

"Crosby's return to the field left some teammates mesmerized by how he looked explosive despite not participating in the offseason program. For the five-time Pro Bowl selection, his presence during the first week of camp was a testament to the work he put into the recovery process to get to this point."

Raiders linebacker Quay Walker told McFadden you would never be able to tell there was anything wrong with Crosby.

"I don't think you can really tell that he went through what he went through last year, honestly," Walker said. "Me and Nakobe Dean talked about that on the sideline. ... After the first team period, we were like, 'man, Maxx is flying."

This could end up being a big storyline throughout the rest of camp and into the regular season because Crosby could be a difference-making pass-rusher if the Raiders decide to reengage teams in trade conversations.

Crosby became a main character in the offseason when the Raiders agreed to trade him to the Baltimore Ravens for two first-round draft picks, but the deal was called off when he failed a physical.

The 28-year-old had surgery in January to repair a minor meniscus injury with an estimated recovery time of three to four months. He was placed on injured reserve and missed the final two games last season after playing through the injury since October.

Dallas Cowboys owner Jerry Jones, whose team was in discussions for Crosby back in March, said last week he is open to making a "substantive" move if it helps their Super Bowl chances.

There was nothing in Crosby's performance during the 2025 season to suggest he was limited. He finished with 28 tackles for loss and 10 sacks in 15 games.

If the early returns from Raiders camp are any indication, Crosby might be back to his All-Pro form from the 2022 season when he recorded a career-high 14.5 sacks.