Think it’s finally time to say that the Las Vegas Raiders can waive the white flag. Of course you go out there and compete and play the full four quarters. But the time has to come to almost turn the page and focus mainly on the 2025 season.

Aidan O’Connell is hurt and is questionable for the Raiders on Monday Night Football. The position that everyone was so concerned about has been as disastrous as we all could’ve imagined. The worst news is that Maxx Crosby is out for the remainder of the season. This is a player who NEVER takes plays off and wants to be on the field at all times. He is having season ending ankle surgery and will be ready for next season.

“As much as it pains me to write, I will not be playing the rest of the season,” Crosby said in an Instagram post. “Second time this year getting rolled up on the same ankle and now it will require surgery.”

So this is a team where the most exciting thing is arguably Crosby. It’s doom and gloom, but let’s take a look at some of the things that could excite you in the dark times.

Sincere McCormick

This reminds me of last season when Josh Jacobs got hurt and Zamir White stepped into the fold. White saw the workload become heavy in the team’s final four games during the 2023 season. White shed light on a run game that was struggling to find its way, tallying 397 yards in four games. With White on the shelf right now, the premiere running back is Sincere McCormick.

McCormick is not scorching the football field on fire, but he has been a bright spot in the run game that is struggling to find its way. McCormick runs with a purpose and runs with authority and fights for every yard. It’s definitely the best option they have and you always want to root for the player to succeed. The new offense ran by Scott Turner has seen the Raiders turn to him in the run game and it has worked.

The stat line is not the sexiest, as he has 175 yards in his last three games. But you can see the potential he has and what he can bring to the backfield.

Brock Bowers Excellence

If there is any player to root for right now in the NFL, it’s rookie tight end Brock Bowers. Bowers already set the record for the most receptions by a rookie tight end and there are still four more games left to play. That could be a record that is long standing, which that’s great for him having that shine. What he is also chasing is 1,000 yards and to become the first tight end to eclipse that mark since Kyle Pitts achieved it in 2021. Also, Mike Ditka has the most receiving yards of a rookie tight end with 1,076.

Bowers is the focal point of the Raiders offense. Being fed the football will not be a problem, as he has become a great security blanket for the quarterbacks. Bowers currently sits at 933 and only needs 144 to break the record. That’s very doable even if Desmond Ridder is under center.

As a fan, I have been thrilled to watch Bowers every week and will carry that positivity with me until the bitter end of the season.

Who Will Rise on the Defensive Front?

Losing Maxx Crosby is a big blow, as there truly is no way of replacing him. He leads the team with 7.5 sacks and has the most tackles for loss. Very hard to replace a guy that is all over the football field. So who rises to the occasion and shines in his absence?

K’Lavon Chiasson can see his time to shine. He is right behind Crosby is sacks (3) and also has an interception under his belt. He will certainly see more reps than he already is and will be the next man up to helping generate a pass rush.

There is also the second year defensive lineman Tyree Wilson. Wilson is one sack away from setting a new career high for himself in a single season. He is a player that has taken some steps in 2024 and with Crosby on the shelf, he can now step up in his absence as well.

Coming into the season, Raider Nation was ecstatic to have the dynamic duo of Christian Wilkins and Maxx Crosby and it is now Chiasson and Wilson.

The Raiders last four games are against the Falcons, Jaguars, Saints, and Chargers. It’s almost done thankfully, but there’s stuff to look forward to at the very least. That also includes whether the team selects first overall or not.