Maxx Crosby is Ready to Continue Career-Best Season

The Las Vegas Raiders have arguably the best defensive end in the National Football League -- Maxx Crosby. The veteran defensive lineman has become a household name over the last few seasons because of his passion and dedication to the game.

As respected as he already was entering this season, Crosby has earned even more respect. With five games remaining in the regular season, he is on pace to shatter some career-high statistics, many of which Crosby achieved just last season.

Through 12 games, Crosby is one sack away from tying his career-high of 12.5 sacks, and he is projected to finish the season with a career-high in tackles and sacks.

If Crosby continues at his current pace, it would make two consecutive seasons in which he notched career highs in those categories.

Interim Coach Antonio Pierce says Crosby's health down the stretch is a focus of his and the coaching staff.

“He keeps working with our medical staff," Pierce said. "At this point, there's nothing there. It’s just something he's going to have to deal with. But if we can manage the pain and the suffering that he goes through throughout the week, you know he's not going to be 100 percent until after the season.

"That's where it's my job to protect the player from himself. And you know Maxx, if he goes out there, he's going to go 100 percent. And I thought in the game against the [Kansas City] Chiefs, we did a good job of managing it. He played close to 48, 49 snaps, I believe, damn near the whole game."

"Any time it’s something that I didn't feel good about, we pull them out, and we try to protect the player. But me and Maxx looked each other in the eye, and I said: ‘Man, you've got to promise me that you're going to take care of yourself. And if there's anything that goes wrong, you look at me, and we make that decision that you're done.’ And he's been a pro about that.”

Crosby has played 97 percent of the Raiders' defensive plays this season and it will be imperative to his and their respective long-term futures that they physically take care of the cornerstone of their defense.

The Silver and Black will return home to Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas to take on the Minnesota Vikings on Sunday, December 10, at 4:05 p.m. EST/1:05 p.m. PST.

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