One of the Las Vegas Raiders’ most intriguing young pass rushers won’t get his shot this season. Keyron Crawford’s rookie campaign is officially over before it began.
The Raiders placed third-round rookie defensive end Keyron Crawford on injured reserve without a designation to return, ending his rookie season before it starts. Crawford suffered an ankle injury in the preseason finale against the San Francisco 49ers, and while Klint Kubiak declined to detail the severity at the time, Sunday’s roster announcement confirmed the worst: he’s done for 2026.
Wasted draft capital, for now…
This stings for a Raiders defense that used an early pick on Crawford as a developmental piece behind Maxx Crosby, Kwity Paye and Malcolm Koonce. With UDFA edge Cian Slone also waived this weekend, Las Vegas now runs noticeably thinner at defensive end than expected heading into Week 1. Crawford wasn’t projected for a major role in Rob Leonard’s scheme this year. But losing a developmental rusher who’d flashed real growth through camp sets his timeline back a full year.
That’s especially significant for a player who only started playing football in high school and needed every rep he could get. It also means the Raiders get zero on-field return from a Day 2 investment in 2026, with roster and cap resources committed to a player who won’t take a snap.
Related: Klint Kubiak isn’t handing the QB2 job to Fernando Mendoza
Expect Las Vegas to explore the street free-agent and practice squad market for edge depth in the coming days, even if nothing dramatic happens. Meanwhile, Crawford will spend the year rehabbing and absorbing the pro routine from Crosby and company. Effectively, it’s a redshirt season that could still pay off in 2027. The silver lining: Ashton Jeanty avoided the IR and is on track for Week 1. So, it wasn’t a total gut punch of a roster day.
Does Crawford’s lost year change how you view the Raiders’ pass-rush depth heading into the season?
*Top Photo: Ramble Illustration/Getty Images