Before their week-long break, the Las Vegas Raiders were in fairly bad shape. The Silver and Black were in desperate need of having their players rested for the most important and final stretch of the season, so the break could not have come at a better time. Before Wednesday’s release of the first Week 14 injury report, keep an eye out for the following injuries.
Pro Bowl edge rusher Maxx Crosby, who played through a knee injury in the Raiders’ most recent game against the Chiefs, is perhaps the team’s most significant health problem. Week 12 was possibly the worst week Crosby has ever had in the NFL. He was admitted to the hospital and was deemed uncertain for the Chiefs game, yet he still performed brilliantly. Since Week 5, the fifth-year defensive end’s knee issue has been listed on the injury report. Although Crosby has mostly been limited or absent from practice in order to be available for game-day situations, the knee injury has undoubtedly grown to be a severe problem for him, and the team has taken precautionary steps to address it.
Raiders captain Kolton Miller was labeled as questionable for the Kansas City game, but he returned to the field after missing the previous two games. Miller has been enduring pain in his shoulder. Before his two-game absence this season, Miller has missed just three games in five seasons, which highlights exactly how severe this injury has been for the seasoned offensive lineman. A positive sign for Raider Nation, who will need the captain in the final stretch, is that Miller was able to play 91 percent of the snaps in the Week 12 game.
Marcus Epps, a rookie safety for the Raiders, hasn’t missed a game this year, though he came dangerously close in Week 12. Having missed practice due to a neck issue all week, Epps was listed as questionable for the Kansas City game. Fans should have hope, though, as Miller did, given that the fifth-year safety was able to play against the Chiefs. The Robert Spillane Another rookie Raider, Robert Spillane, was also deemed questionable in Week 12 due to an ankle ailment. Despite this, the seasoned linebacker persevered, recording 11 total tackles at the end of the game.
