Raiders suffer massive injury blows

Las Vegas will be without 2 best players Sunday

The Las Vegas Raiders are dealing with a devastating wave of injuries that will keep five starters out of Sunday’s Week 4 home game against the Cleveland Browns, including their two best players.

Las Vegas coach Antonio Pierce delivered the stunning news that stars, defensive end Maxx Crosby and wide receiver Davante Adams will not play Sunday.

Crosby has a high ankle sprain. He suffered it in Week 2, but played last week after being limited in practice all week. Yet, the team has decided to let the injury try to calm down and he is not practicing or playing this week.

Adams suffered a hamstring injury in practice Thursday. It is not known how much time he will be out.

This is the first game Crosby will miss in his six NFL seasons. It is the first game Adams will miss since he became a Raider in 2022 and his first missed game since Week 8 in 2021 while with Green Bay.

Meanwhile, Pierce also ruled out right tackle Thayer Munford (knee/ankle), linebacker Divine Deablo (Oblique), tight end Michael Mayer (personal) and cornerback Decamerion Richardson (hamstring).

The Raiders released their injury report Friday afternoon and Crosby and Munford were listed as doubtful, leaving the door open a bit for them.

Munford was replaced by third-round pick DJ Glaze against Carolina in Week 3 and the rookie third-round pick will likely start against Cleveland. Luke Masterson started for Deablo last week and he will likely play some again Sunday.

With both Adams and Mayer out, expect a big dose of receivers Jakobi Meyers and Tre Tucker and standout rookie tight end Brock Bowers in the passing game Sunday.

The loss of Crosby is brutal. He’s been great this season, but the Raiders’ pass-rush other than his has been subpar. They are also playing without fellow starter Koonce (safety Marcus Epps is also out for the season) , who is out for the season with a knee injury.

The Raiders will rely on pass-rushers Tyree Wilson, Janarius Robinson, Charles Snowden and K’Lavon Chaisson will likely be elevated from the practice squad for the game. The good news is the Browns’ offensive line is a mess, thus Las Vegas will need a big game from star defensive tackle Christian Wilkins.

Meanwhile, the battered Browns ruled out several players including tight end David Njoku for Sunday. They are also missing, at least, two starting offensive linemen.