“It would be the most Maxx Crosby thing ever to be, like, a rare guy who is doubtful. Then, surprise! Here I am.” NFL insider Ian Rapoport’s words hint at the drama unfolding in Las Vegas, but it’s not Crosby stealing the spotlight this time. The Raiders’ offense just took a hit that could knock them off their feet.

Rapoport dropped a bombshell on Friday, revealing that star wide receiver Davante Adams is “limping pretty bad” and has been ruled out for Sunday’s clash against the Cleveland Browns.

“My understanding is it is not considered to be a serious and significant hamstring, but he is limping pretty bad, and it sounds like it’s painful,” Rapoport reported on a discussion in NFL Insiders. Adams has been a beacon of reliability, playing in all 37 games since joining the Silver and Black in 2022. It’s a streak that’s ending abruptly, marking the first time Adams will miss a game since 2021.

The timing couldn’t be worse for the Raiders. Adams has been their offensive linchpin, racking up 18 catches for 209 yards and a touchdown through three games. His best performance came in Week 2 against the Baltimore Ravens, when he finished with nine catches for 110 yards and a touchdown. Now, that production will be sorely missed against a tough Browns defense.

Head coach Antonio Pierce isn’t sugar-coating the situation. “Nobody needs to be Davante Adams,” Pierce said as per ESPN. “I don’t need another Davante. There’s only one, right? I just need the best version of Jakobi Meyers.” It’s a tall order, asking other players to fill the cleats of a six-time Pro Bowler and three-time All-Pro.

The silver lining? This could be rookie tight end Brock Bowers’ time to shine. The first-round pick leads all NFL tight ends with 18 catches for 197 yards and a touchdown. He’ll need to channel his inner Adams if the Raiders hope to keep their offense humming against the Browns. As Bowers put it, “We’re obviously going to miss them a lot this weekend and other people are going to have to step up. So, I mean, we’re just going to have to do what we have to do to win, and see what happens.”

Is Maxx Crosby limping into battle?

While Adams’ absence is grabbing headlines, defensive end Maxx Crosby’s status remains a cliffhanger. Initially ruled out, Crosby was later upgraded to doubtful, leaving fans wondering if they’ll see their defensive star on Sunday.

Crosby’s been battling a left high ankle sprain since Week 2, but his warrior mentality has kept him in the game. “I play one way, and when you’re not able to do certain things, it’s tough,” Crosby admitted to ESPN. “I have a damn Timberland-boot-size wrapping on my leg, and it’s tough, but at the end of the day, I don’t complain.” This injury hampered him against Carolina last week, where he failed to record a tackle for a loss and a quarterback hit in the same game for the first time since Week 2 of the 2023 season.

This grit is admirable, but is it enough against a tough Browns offense? The Raiders are already down Malcolm Koonce, their other starting defensive end, who suffered a season-ending knee injury in practice two days before the season opener. If Crosby can’t go, rookie Tyree Wilson will need to step up big time, along with Janarius Robinson, K’Lavon Chaisson, and Charles Snowden.

Coach Pierce’s message to Wilson? “Don’t worry about being Maxx Crosby. Don’t put a cape on. Don’t try to be 98, be No. 9.” It’s clear the Raiders are hoping their depth can weather this storm of injuries. But with key players limping or sidelined, Sunday’s game against the Browns looks like an uphill battle for Las Vegas. As Pierce summed it up, “If we do that enough across the board, we’ll get the results we want.”