When Maxx Crosby misses a game of football, you know he has a good reason.

The superstar pass rusher sat out the Las Vegas Raiders‘ win against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday with a high ankle sprain.

Crosby takes down Patrick Mahomes

Incredibly, it was the first time he has ever missed an NFL contest, snapping a ridiculous 86-game streak.

Crosby was asked if he had ever come close before – and his answer showed just how far he is willing to go to get on the field.

The defensive end’s right knee ballooned to double the size last season, but he still managed to sack Patrick Mahomes in a game against the AFC West rival Kansas City Chiefs.

“The closest one was last year vs the Chiefs I was doubtful and it came down to right before kickoff,” he said on his Let’s Go podcast.

“I had the knee issue I was dealing with all last year with the bursa sacks that kept filling up.

“I popped it and it kept reaggravating. We played Miami and I smashed my knee into the ground again – it blows up like crazy.

“I’m on the plane back to Vegas and all of a sudden, halfway through the trip, my knee just starts killing me.

“My knee got infected and I had to get it drained. I got like 150ccs taken out right when the plane landed.

“I was in crazy pain and it just got worse and worse. That whole week was a nightmare.

“I had to go to hospital on Thanksgiving. I was in surgery, I had tubes through my knee, I had to get my whole knee drained and fluid put through it.

Crosby played 86-straight games to start his NFL careerGetty

“If it got to my bloodstream, that infection, there’s a possibility I could lose my life and that’s not even exaggerating.

“So it was a scary scary movement. That was on Thursday and I played Sunday. I couldn’t even bend my knee past 50 per cent it was crazy.”

Crosby revealed that he was told not to play but was determined to take on the Raiders’ fierce foes, who recovered from going 14-0 down to win 31-17.

“Champ Kelly – our GM at the time – was like, ‘With all due respect, I don’t think you can go,’” he added.

“I was just like, ‘With all due respect, this is my decision. I’m playing, it’s the Chiefs.’”

Crosby doesn’t think he has ever missed a game before – even in middle school.

And in a boost for Raiders fans, he’s not keen to repeat the experience.

“I’ve never missed a game due to injury, I don’t think, in middle school, high school, college, none of that,” he said.

“So, yeah, it was a different experience.

“Honestly, I’ve never been more stressed during a football game.

“I’ve never experienced watching my own team from home, and I was losing my mind the whole time.”

Crosby is expected to return against the Denver Broncos on Sunday, October 6.

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