Latest news with #MaxxCrosby
Yahoo
16 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Steelers Aiming to Make T.J. Watt Contract Decision After Rumors Surface
Steelers Aiming to Make T.J. Watt Contract Decision After Rumors Surface originally appeared on Athlon Sports. Pittsburgh Steelers edge rusher T.J. Watt has been the heart of the team's defense after being drafted in the first round of the 2017 NFL Draft. Advertisement He's led the NFL in sacks in three seasons, achieved First-Team All-Pro honors four times, and won NFL Defensive Player of the Year in 2021. In 2021, Watt tied the NFL record for having the most sacks in a single season (22.5), and he's helped the Steelers have one of the best defenses in the league throughout his career. Brett Davis/USA TODAY Sports As the league creeps towards the start of the 2025 season, Watt will be heading into his final year of the four-year, $112 million deal he signed in 2021 and has been looking to ink a new deal with the Steelers. With top NFL edge rushers landing major paydays this offseason – including the Browns' Myles Garrett (four years, $204.8 million) and the Raiders' Maxx Crosby (three years, $106.5 million) – T.J. Watt is expected to land a similar deal. Update on contract extension between Steelers and T.J. Watt Pittsburgh had the opportunity to get the deal done with Watt before other top players in the position agreed to large pay days, but the Steelers have decided to stay patient in the contract extension process. Advertisement An update on the negotiations was released on Monday. "The Steelers have been discussing a new contract with outside linebacker T.J. Watt with the expectation they will come to some agreement with the four-time All-Pro and former NFL Defensive Player of the Year before the start of the regular season," per the Post-Gazette. The Pittsburgh Steelers kick off their regular season on September 7 as they take on the New York Jets. As the team began OTAs last week, it's clear they still have plenty to sort out, including questions at the quarterback position. As time keeps ticking, the Pittsburgh Steelers will have to get a lot of questions answered before the 2025 season begins. This story was originally reported by Athlon Sports on Jun 2, 2025, where it first appeared.
Associated Press
22-05-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Raiders DE Maxx Crosby's return: 'It's the best feeling on the planet'
HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Quarterbacks usually don't like Maxx Crosby to be this close to them. However one of the NFL's fiercest pass rushers made sure this was a friendly visit when he went over to the Raiders' QBs at Wednesday's practice. The quarterbacks were just as happy as anyone to have Crosby back on the field even if the first regular-season game was still nearly four months away. Crosby, who hadn't missed a start in the four previous seasons, played through an ankle injury he sustained last year in Week 2 at Baltimore and wasn't the same until finally shutting it down in mid-December to undergo surgery. 'Maxx looks great,' Las Vegas coach Pete Carroll said. 'He's going full speed.' Taking part in organized team activities was another major step for Crosby, who began the rehabilitation process in December. 'It's just been incredible being out there with my teammates, being able to just fully be myself, not hesitate on any type of cut and just cut it loose,' Crosby said. 'It's the best feeling on the planet. I'm having so much fun out here, just being 100% and no hesitation.' Crosby's loss wasn't the only one for the defensive line. Tackle Christian Wilkins, signed last offseason to a four-year, $110 million contract, broke his foot in Week 5 and is still trying to come back from that injury. End Malcolm Koonce, who missed all of the season because of a torn ACL, is closer to a full return, but still is not practicing. Koonce, who signed a one-year, $12 million contract in March, said he expects to return soon. 'We're in the training room seeing games and seeing bad things play out and stuff like that. ... It just didn't feel good for anybody,' Koonce said of the injuries to the line. Their injuries made a bad season for the Raiders even worse, their 4-13 record leading to a house cleaning in which coach Antonio Pierce and general manager Tom Telesco were fired. In came Carroll and GM John Spytek, and many of the questions this week regarded the energy that the 73-year-old coach has brought to the building, which overlooks that much of the reason Pierce was hired last year had to do with his player-friendly style. Still, there is no question Carroll brings a passion that people more than 40 years his junior can't match. One of the few being Crosby. 'I mean he's finishing 50 yards every single time,' tight end Brock Bowers said. 'I'm trying to win every single rep and he does a really good job doing that.' That high-octane attitude is why Crosby went from a fourth-round draft pick out of Eastern Michigan in 2019 to quickly become a dominant pass rusher. His 52 sacks between that season and 2023 were the league's fifth-highest total. He also led the NFL in tackles for loss with 22 in 2022 and 23 a year later. Then came last season and the early season injury against the Ravens. Crosby tried to play through the pain as he often did with other injuries, but this one was different. The player who seldom came off the field didn't play at all two weeks later against Cleveland to end his 86-game playing streak. 'Last year was definitely one of the hardest years of my life in general — so many things going on, battling injuries, not being able to be myself at times, I felt like,' Crosby said. 'There's no excuses. It's tough. It's part of the game, and that's what comes with it.' Crosby has long said he wants to play for the Raiders his entire career, and the club showed him the feeling is mutual by signing him in March to a three-year extension worth $106.5 million, with $91.5 million guaranteed. That deal takes him through 2029. It was a record contract for a non-quarterback that since has been surpassed by three other players, according to including ends Myles Garrett of Cleveland and Danielle Hunter of Houston. Cincinnati wide receiver Ja'Marr Chase is the other player. In trying to meet the expectations of the new deal, Crosby will be playing for his third head coach in three years. Crosby has been onboard since Carroll's hiring and was at the coach's introductory news conference in January. Carroll even made the point at the presser to talk directly to Crosby. 'It's a breath of fresh air,' Crosby said. 'We've been having so much fun and getting better every single day, working our (butts) off. It's been a hell of a journey so far.' ___ AP NFL:
NBC Sports
22-05-2025
- Sport
- NBC Sports
Maxx Crosby: Ashton Jeanty is a hell of a worker, hell of a player
Count Maxx Crosby among the players who are excited to see what running back Ashton Jeanty can do. After Wednesday's OTA practice, the Raiders' star defensive end was asked about his impression of the No. 6 overall pick in this year's draft and told reporters that Jeanty has been 'awesome.' 'Ashton is a great kid,' Crosby said in his press conference. 'I've been able to know him before he got drafted here. ... But he's a great kid, humble kid, I think — just the fact that a kid like him could have went anywhere in the country and decided to stay at Boise State and go out there and have the best year at running back, I think, arguably, he ever had. But just shows the testament to the type of person he is. 'So, it's been awesome. It's only been a couple weeks with him, but I love the kid. He's a hell of a worker, hell of a player, and excited to be teammates with him.' Jeanty won several national awards for his outstanding 2024 season at Boise State, also earning Mountain West Offensive Player of the Year honors in 2023 and 2024. He has a chance to make a significant impact as a rookie with a revamped Las Vegas offense under head coach Pete Carroll and coordinator Chip Kelly.
Associated Press
21-05-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Raiders' Christian Wilkins not close to returning from broken foot
HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Raiders defensive tackle Christian Wilkins is facing an uncertain recovery process from a broken foot suffered last season and isn't close to returning, Las Vegas coach Pete Carroll said Wednesday. Wilkins was at organized team activities practice, but did not participate. He received extra work on the side afterward. 'It's been a difficult recovery and he's done everything he needs to do,' Carroll said. 'He's been here every day. He's here early working hard. He's not ready to get back out. We're in the midst of a long, challenging process. Fortunately, there's a lot of time and we're going to take every bit of it to be really diligent about the way we work.' Wilkins, 29, was the Raiders' marquee free-agent signing last year, agreeing to a four-year, $110 million contract with $82.75 million guaranteed. He was expected to bolster a defensive line led by pass rushers Maxx Crosby and Malcolm Koonce after making a career-high nine sacks in 2023 with Miami to go with his elite run-stopping ability. All three linemen, however, suffered season-ending injuries. Wilkins had two sacks and 17 tackles in five games before injuring his foot, which required surgery. He suffered a Jones fracture — a break of the bone that connects the pinkie toe to the base of the foot. ___ AP NFL:
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Maxx Crosby Issues Eye-Opening Statement About Malcolm Koonce
The Las Vegas Raiders were expected to have one of the best defensive lines in the NFL last season. Unfortunately, injuries plagued the unit, as edge rusher Malcolm Koonce tore his ACL before the season opener and defensive tackle Christian Wilkins broke his foot in the first quarter of the season. Luckily, the Raiders have both of these players under contract for the 2025 season. Under new head coach Pete Carroll and alongside several new additions from general manager John Spytek, this defensive line could finally live up to the lofty expectations that were placed on them before the start of last season. Las Vegas Raiders DE Maxx Crosby (98) and Malcolm Koonce (51).Kirby Lee-Imagn Images Star edge rusher Maxx Crosby recently had Koonce as a guest on his podcast, "The Rush with Maxx Crosby." After the episode was uploaded and fans had reacted to what was said, Crosby made an incredibly strong statement about his teammate. Advertisement "More Is Required," Crosby wrote. "One Of The Best Teammates I've Ever Had, Greatness Incoming For 51. 🦅🖤" Koonce took a bit of time to get going in the NFL, but he made a major leap in his third season. In the last nine games of the 2023 campaign, he recorded 8.0 sacks, which was one of the highest marks in the league during that span. Alongside Crosby and a slew of other great talents on the defensive line, this defense should surprise some people this year. They'll need to wreak havoc if they want a chance to improve from last year's four-win season. Related: Raiders Send Message to Las Vegas Aces Before WNBA Season Related: Former Raiders Starter Signs with AFC Contender
