Maxx Crosby says he will undergo ankle surgery and miss rest of the Raiders season

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Maxx Crosby says he will undergo ankle surgery and miss rest of the Raiders season

2024-12-15 09:23 Last Updated At：09:30

HENDERSON, Nev. (AP) — Raiders star defensive end Maxx Crosby will undergo ankle surgery and miss the rest of the season, the latest in a series of injuries that have devastated Las Vegas.

The Raiders, who are on a nine-game losing streak and 2-11, are without about half of the defense that was expected to begin the season.

Las Vegas hosts the Atlanta Falcons on Monday night.

“I can feel bad for myself and make excuses but I ... refuse” Crosby posted on social media. “I will get this surgery & be on a war path for greatness everyday and be back the best version of myself. I truly believe in my soul that I’m changing the game one snap at a time and changing the way this position is viewed.”

Crosby is not only the most recent of the major defensive injuries, he's the focal point on that side of the ball and one of the team's top locker-room leaders. He also led by example, a player until this year who had played four consecutive seasons without missing a game.

But Crosby played through an injured ankle late last season and again was not 100% after getting hurt again Sept. 15 at Baltimore. He wound up sitting out Sept. 29 against the Cleveland Browns.

“I have absolutely zero regrets with my process, my approach and my discipline to this game," Crosby wrote. “Instead of sitting out for over a month with my first high ankle sprain @ Baltimore, I only missed 1 game and came back and fought all year because that's who I am.”

He has 7 1/2 sacks and 17 tackles for loss this season. Crosby is just half a sack from becoming the third Raiders player since at least 1982 with 60 for his career.

But now he will have to wait until next season to try to reach that figure after getting injured a week ago at Tampa Bay.

“As much as it pains me not to go to war with my brothers and for the fans, I truly believe everything happens for a reason,” Crosby wrote.

Quarterback Aidan O'Connell, who has a bruised left knee, is questionable. He has not practiced the past three days, but coach Antonio Pierce has expressed hope that O'Connell would play.

If O'Connell doesn't start, the Raiders will turn to Desmond Ridder, who would face his old club. Ridder started 13 games for the Falcons last season.

Also, cornerback Nate Hobbs did not receive an injury designation and was a full participant at practice Saturday. He hasn't played since Nov. 3 because of an ankle injury.

Defensive tackle Adam Butler (concussion) is questionable and cornerback Sam Webb (back) is doubtful.

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Over 50,000 under evacuation orders or warnings as wildfire imperils homes north of Los Angeles

2025-01-23 11:08 Last Updated At：11:10

CASTAIC, Calif. (AP) — More than 50,000 people were under evacuation orders or warnings Wednesday as a huge and fast-moving wildfire swept through rugged mountains north of Los Angeles, but fire officials said a rapid ground and air assault was giving them the upper hand.

The Hughes Fire broke out in the late morning and within six hours charred about 15 square miles (39 square kilometers) of trees and brush near Lake Castaic, a popular recreation area about 40 miles (64 kilometers) from the devastating Eaton and Palisades fires that are burning for a third week. Though the region was under a red flag warning, winds were not as fast as they had been when those fires broke out, allowing for firefighting aircraft to dump tens of thousands of gallons of fire retardant.

“The situation that we’re in today is very different from the situation we were in 16 days ago,” Los Angeles County Fire Chief Anthony Marrone said Wednesday evening.

There were no reported homes or other structures burned.

“This fire had a robust response today, and as you can see behind us, the responders are doing great work to try to contain this fire," Joe Tyler, director of Cal Fire, said. “Certainly, we are not out of the woods yet.”

More than 31,000 people have been ordered to evacuate, and another 23,000 are under evacuation warnings, LA County Sheriff Robert Luna said.

Parts of Interstate 5 that had been closed reopened Wednesday evening.

A 30-mile (48-kilometer) stretch of the major north-south artery had been closed for emergency vehicles, to move equipment and to prevent accidents due to smoke billowing across the freeway. Crews on the ground and in water-dropping aircraft tried to prevent the wind-driven fire from moving across the interstate and toward Castaic.

Marrone said that because winds were not as strong as they were two weeks ago, aircraft crews were able to drop fire retardant on the south side of the fire, where the flames were moving, he said. More than 4,000 firefighters were assigned to the fire, he said.

Winds in the area were gusting at 42 mph (67 kph) in the afternoon but were expected to increase to 60 mph (96 kph) by later in the evening and Thursday, the National Weather Service said on the social platform X.

Kayla Amara drove to Castaic's Stonegate neighborhood to collect items from the home of a friend who had rushed to pick up her daughter at preschool. As Amara was packing the car, she learned the fire had exploded in size and decided to hose down the property.

“Other people are hosing down their houses, too. I hope there's a house here to return to,” Amara said as police cars raced through the streets and flames engulfed trees on a hillside in the distance.

Amara, a nurse who lives in nearby Valencia, said she's been on edge for weeks as major blazes devastated Southern California.

“It’s been stressful with those other fires, but now that this one is close to home it's just super stressful,” she said.

To the south, Los Angeles officials began to prepare for potential rain even as some residents were allowed to return to the charred Pacific Palisades and Altadena areas. Gusty weather was expected to last through Thursday and precipitation was possible starting Saturday, according to the National Weather Service.

“Rains are in the forecast and the threat of mud and debris flow in our fire-impacted communities is real," Supervisor Kathryn Barger said during a Wednesday morning news conference.

Fire crews were filling sandbags for communities while county workers installed barriers and cleared drainage pipes and basins.

Red flag warnings for critical fire risk were extended through 10 a.m. Friday in LA and Ventura counties. Officials remained concerned that the Palisades and Eaton fires could break their containment lines as firefighters continue watching for hot spots.

Los Angeles Mayor Karen Bass warned that winds could carry ash and advised Angelenos to visit the city's website to learn how to protect themselves from toxic air during the latest Santa Ana wind event. LA County public health director Barbara Ferrer cautioned that the ash could contain heavy metals, arsenic and other harmful materials.

“Even a brief exposure can potentially cause skin irritation and lead to more serious problems,” Ferrer said Wednesday, asking people to wear protective gear while cleaning up.

The low humidity, bone-dry vegetation and strong winds came as firefighters continued battling the Palisades and Eaton fires, which have killed at least 28 people and destroyed more than 14,000 structures since they broke out Jan. 7. Containment of the Palisades Fire reached 68%, and the Eaton Fire was at 91%.

Luna said Wednesday that his department was still investigating 22 active missing person reports in both fire zones. All of those reported missing are adults, he said.

The federal Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms is investigating the causes of the fires but has not released any findings.

Several lawsuits have been filed by people who lost their homes in the Eaton Fire, alleging Southern California Edison's equipment sparked the blaze. On Tuesday, a judge overseeing one of the lawsuits ordered the utility to produce data from circuits in the area where the fire started.

Weber reported from Los Angeles. Associated Press journalists Ethan Swope in Castaic, Hallie Golden in Seattle, Jaimie Ding in Los Angeles and Julie Walker in New York contributed to this report.