Adams out, Crosby, Munford doubtful for Raiders vs. Browns

HENDERSON, Nev. – HENDERSON, Nev. – The Las Vegas Raiders will be without All-Pro receiver Davante Adams on Sunday when they face the Cleveland Browns and may also be without Pro Bowl edge rusher Maxx Crosby, Right tackle Thayer Munford Jr. is also in the starting lineup.

Raiders head coach Antonio Pierce had originally ruled out Adams, Crosby and Munford during his media availability Friday, but the team's injury report listed Crosby and Munford as questionable late Friday afternoon, although no information on their respective status upgrades was available.

Adams suffered a hamstring injury in practice Thursday and Crosby was dealing with a left upper ankle sprain he suffered in the penultimate game of the Raiders' Week 2 win at the Baltimore Ravens. Munford is dealing with knee and ankle problems.

The Raiders are also without two other starters – linebacker Divine Deablo (oblique) and tight end Michael Mayer (personal reason). Pierce said other players like tight ends Harrison Bryant and Brock Bowers and receiver Jakobi Meyers need to take advantage of the opportunities presented.

“But overall, no one has to be Davante Adams,” Pierce said. “I don’t need another Davante. There's only one, right? I just need the best version of Jakobi Meyers.”

“We’ll see what happens on Sunday, but we really have a feeling [positive] Give these guys the last 12 hours and now today, tomorrow to prepare for the game.

Adams has 18 catches for 209 yards and a touchdown in three games. He last missed a game with the Green Bay Packers in 2021.

Crosby, now in his sixth NFL season, is now at risk of missing the first game of his career.

Crosby was noncommittal Thursday when asked if he thought his injury could sideline him.

“I'm not worried about it right now,” said Crosby, who was hampered last week against Carolina when he had no tackles for a loss and no QB hit in the same game for the first time since Week 2 of the 2023 season I'm just worried about today. I'm in here every day – first in, last out – doing everything I can to get better. That’s all I’m worried about right now.”

“That's the hardest part. I mean, I play in a way, and when you can't do certain things, it's hard. But I've done everything I could to try to produce something and I feel like I've done some things, some of them good things, but it's hard. I have a damn Timberland boot size on my leg, and it's tough, but at the end of the day I'm not complaining, I'm focusing on being healthy, just taking it one day at a time.

The Raiders lost their other starting defensive end, Malcolm Koonce, two days before the season opener to a season-ending knee injury in practice.

Tyree Wilson, last season's first-round draft pick by Las Vegas at No. 7, is expected to play a larger role alongside Janarius Robinson, K'Lavon Chaisson and Charles Snowden.

“Don’t worry about being Maxx Crosby,” Pierce told Wilson. “Don’t put on a cloak. Don't try to be 98, be No. 9. Be 97. Be 44. Be 49. And just give us your best. Don't try to be the guy who's the hero.” Just be a team player, be a D-End.

“You have to set the edge, set the edge. You're falling, you're falling. If you have to go inward on the stunt, just do that career. Just do your job. And I think if we do that enough, down the line we will get the results we want.”