When the Las Vegas Raiders announced they were shutting down All-Pro edge rusher Maxx Crosby, a collective groan across Florham Park, NJ, could be heard.

The New York Jets, needing at least another win from the Raiders to potentially jump them in the race for the top overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft, saw Crosby’s benching as a sign of the Silver and Black tanking their final two games.

Las Vegas currently sits at 2-13 with the second overall selection in the upcoming draft if the season ended today. They play the New York Giants in a game where the winner will actually end up being the loser, falling in the draft order.

But for as rough a message as the benching of Crosby was for Jets fans, they did get some good news outside of him.

Jets get good draft pick news

It turns out that Crosby’s current knee injury is much worse than the Raiders initially let on. They announced in a statement Saturday that the only reason Crosby wasn’t going to play was that he was going to get a head start on offseason surgery.

Not because the Raiders were tanking.

Outside of Crosby’s absence, though, Las Vegas is full steam ahead in trying to beat the Giants. Adam Schefter reported quarterback Geno Smith, running back Ashton Jeanty, and wide receiver Tre Tucker are all expected to play on Sunday.

There are no plans for the Raiders to shut down any other players; they are healthy enough to play and are expected to do so Sunday vs. the Giants. Those players include QB Geno Smith, RB Ashton Jeanty and WR Tre Tucker, amongst others. https://t.co/YQfGbeif71

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) December 27, 2025

This is tremendous news for Jets fans.

The Raiders, with a veteran coach in Pete Carroll, are looking to build a culture in the final two games of the season. That means trying to beat not only the Giants, but the Kansas City Chiefs to end the year as well.

Any Raiders win moving forward is massive for the Jets.

The fact that Las Vegas won’t be sitting many of their other starters is a sign that Gang Green may not stay with the fourth overall pick for long.

As long as they lose their final two games, of course.