The Maxx Crosby chatter is back, and it’s easy to see why. The 2026 trade deadline is closing in, and Crosby’s name is once again circulating in the rumor mill.
Crosby’s offseason took a wild turn when the Raiders traded him to Baltimore, only for the deal to get wiped out after he failed his physical with the Ravens. He ended up back in Las Vegas and has played in every game since. Through this season, he has two sacks and a forced fumble.
The Lions connection has always made the speculation feel natural. Crosby was born in Lapeer, Michigan, played at Eastern Michigan, and has been a favorite trade target for Detroit fans for years. Tom Pelissero reported that Crosby does not want to be traded, though the Raiders are willing to hear offers.
Any team that calls will likely have to come with a massive package. When Baltimore and Las Vegas first agreed to the deal, the Ravens were sending the Raiders two first-round picks, and with less than a year gone by since then, that kind of price would probably be the starting point for anyone interested before the Nov. 10 deadline.
Detroit’s pass rush has been rolling even without a splash move. Aidan Hutchinson and D.J. Wonnum are tied for the team lead with five sacks each, and the Lions are tied for second in the league with 21 sacks overall.
Still, that hasn’t stopped the conversation around Crosby. Lions radio color commentator Lomas Brown made his case for Detroit on Woodward Sports Network.
“Man, come on Maxx. Come home Maxx.
Maxx, we know your mom. Come on home, I’ve been talking to your mom, friend of the program," Brown said.
"Come on home. She says she knows you want to come home.
We want you home. You and Aidan, come on man, who's stopping that?”
Brown’s pitch matched the kind of dream scenario Lions fans have been floating for a while: Crosby in Detroit, lining up next to Hutchinson.
Away from the roster talk, Jameson Williams kept up his charitable work by reaching out to a young fan recovering from a serious accident. Trevor Travier Jr., a 12-year-old from Warren, has been at CSM Children's Hospital after being hit by a truck while riding his bike, according to WXYZ Detroit.
During his stay, he got a FaceTime call from Williams arranged by Lincoln Middle School’s School Resource Officer, Adnan Durrani. Williams told him, “I appreciate you being a fan of me, man.
I'm looking out. I'm thinking about you," and added, "I hope everything goes okay, man.
I'm thinking about you in my heart, for sure."
The two also talked about Travier’s habit of calling big plays for Williams while playing Madden.
The Lions sent Travier a gift basket as well, including a bobblehead and a new Williams “Rivalries” jersey.
On the roster front, Detroit also appears set to go another week without elevating anyone from the practice squad. Teams can bring players up to reach 55 on game day, but the Lions did not use that option last week and seem likely to pass again this week.
That stands out a bit given how Brad Holmes and Dan Campbell have usually handled the practice squad. Even so, it points to a healthier roster overall, with only one player on the active roster carrying an injury designation: Roger McCreary, who is questionable with a foot injury.
In Other News...
Lions Face A Bigger Secondary Question As Deadline Nears
The Lions have started to get healthier in the back end, with Kerby Joseph back at practice and Brian Branch already returned to the mix. For a defense that has been trying to steady itself, those developments matter, especially with the secondary taking shape again as the team moves deeper into the season.
Even with that help on the way, the next few days could still bring another move as the Nov. 10 trade deadline approaches. Detroit could look for help at cornerback or linebacker if it decides the defense needs another boost, even as the offense has been getting solid work up front from Christian Mahogany, Tate Ratledge and rookie Blake Miller. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Trade Deadline Pressure Is Now Squarely On Brad Holmes
Chicagos move for Jeffrey Simmons only sharpened the pressure on the Lions as the trade deadline approaches, because Detroits own roster questions are still sitting in plain view. The biggest one remains the secondary, where the defense has been vulnerable enough to keep the front offices options under a microscope. Brad Holmes has built a reputation for being selective, but this is the kind of moment that tests whether patience is still the right play.
The debate around Detroit is less about whether help is needed and more about how far Holmes should go to get it. An aggressive swing for a starting cornerback would clearly change the ceiling of the defense, yet the cost of paying premium draft capital for that kind of upgrade is part of what makes the decision so tricky. On the other side of the argument, there is still enough belief in the talent already coming back and the young pieces developing that a more modest deadline approach would make sense too, leaving the Lions to weigh urgency against long-term value. [Read more 🡒]
Lions-Packers Fallout Puts Brian Branch Right Back In The Spotlight
Brian Branchs return from injury already gave the Lions a timely boost, and now it has put him right back in the middle of the conversation in Detroit. The safety was back on the field after missing the first six weeks with a torn Achilles, and he wasted little time making an impact with an interception in his first game back, a reminder of how quickly he can change a game for this defense.
The aftermath of the Week 7 win over Green Bay also brought more attention to Branch and the physical edge he plays with. The NFL fined him for helmet use, while Derrick Barnes was also penalized for a late hit, and the leagues decision only adds another layer to a stretch in which Detroit is weighing bigger-picture business, too, including contract talks with Branch and tight end Sam LaPorta. [Read more 🡒]
