Maxx Crosby talks up Raiders defensive line after joint practice

On Thursday, the Las Vegas Raiders held their joint practice with the San Francisco 49ers before the two sides face off for their next preseason game on Saturday.

From a defensive perspective, the team was evenly matched. The 49ers did get the better of the Raiders on quick passing plays, likely taking advantage of the overall inexperience of the Las Vegas secondary. However, the run defense appears to have improved, which is promising after the Seattle Seahawks were able to carry the ball at will in the Raiders’ first preseason game.

One of the leaders on defense, Maxx Crosby did not hesitate to give his teammates credit after a hard-fought practice.

Crosby commented about several of his teammates.

During his media availability, Crosby spoke about some of his teammates on the defensive line, with one of the names he singled out being defensive tackle Tyree Wilson.

“He’s getting better. His approach, work ethic and everything continued to improve since he’s gotten here. He’s a guy I feel like since day one I’ve taken him under my wing,” Crosby said about the 2023 seventh overall pick.

Wilson has not had quite the start to his NFL career he had hoped for, but 2025 provides him a new opportunity. Christian Wilkins’ release has opened the door for reps on the interior, which is where Wilson’s combination of size and athleticism can serve him well.

Wilson was not the only player Crosby was impressed by, as both Thomas Booker IV and Tonka Hemingway earned praise from the perennial All-Pro pass rusher.