Raiders rule out Davante Adams (hamstring), Maxx Crosby (ankle) vs. Browns

The Las Vegas Raiders face the Cleveland Browns on Sunday without their two best players as pass rusher Maxx Crosby (ankle) and wide receiver Davante Adams (hamstring) will sit out the week, coach Antonio Pierce announced before Friday's practice.

Crosby played with a high ankle sprain last week against the Carolina Panthers and was ineffective, while Adams pulled his hamstring during practice on Thursday. Crosby will miss the first home game of his six-year career. He said Thursday that he was frustrated against the Panthers last week.

“I play one way and when you can’t do certain things, it’s difficult,” Crosby said. “But I've done everything… to try to produce and I feel like I've done some things, some good things, but it's tough. I have a fucking boot-sized Timberland brace on my leg… and it’s, it’s hard.”

Tyree Wilson, last year's first-round pick, will look to replace Crosby's pass rush, and he gets a break as the Browns are without their two starting offensive tackles. Jakobi Meyers and speedster Tre Tucker, who had a 54-yard catch last week, will get more targets without Adams, although rookie tight end Brock Bowers will likely take over as option one.

The Raiders were already missing pass rusher Malcolm Koonce and safety Marcus Epps, who are out for the season with knee injuries. They will also be without linebacker Divine Deablo (oblique). Las Vegas started linebacker Luke Masterson in Deablo's place.

Masterson hasn't played well, so perhaps the Raiders could lean more on rookies Amari Gainer and Tommy Eichenberg this week. In total, Las Vegas will have to do without four starters against Cleveland.

The Raiders had no interest in free agent and former Las Vegas pass rusher Yannick Ngakoue, who signed with the Baltimore Ravens' practice squad last week. Las Vegas felt that 2020 first-round pick K'Lavon Chaisson, who the team previously signed to its practice squad, was a better fit for its plan and will provide some production on Sunday.

“I don't know,” Pierce said when asked about a timeline for Adams' return. “All I know is he’s out this week.”

Without Adams, the Raiders' top receiver trio will consist of Meyers, Tucker and DJ Turner. Fellow receivers Tyreik McAllister and Ramel Keyton were both inactive the last two games, but at least one of them will likely be active now against Cleveland for depth reasons.

While Las Vegas has players capable of replacing him this week, losing Adams is a major blow to an offense that is already struggling to get things going. They average just 19.3 points per game (tied for 17th) and 5.0 yards per game (22nd). Additionally, the Raiders' offense will also be without starting right tackle Thayer Munford (knee/ankle) and tight end Michael Mayer (personal).

When asked for further details as to why Mayer would not play, Pierce declined to elaborate. Rookie DJ Glaze will start in Munford's place, while veteran tight end Harrison Bryant serves as the backup behind Bowers.

The Browns' defense has been leaky this season, but they now have a clear matchup advantage over the Las Vegas offense. The Raiders will need to jumpstart a historically anemic rushing attack, give quarterback Gardner Minshew more time to throw and pass the ball to Bowers to have a chance of putting up enough points to compete this week.

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(Photo: Ethan Miller/Getty Images)