Brandon

Facyson

Raiders interim head coach Antonio Pierce said on Friday that he expects Crosby to play. A knee injury held Crosby out of the first two practices to start the week, but he was able to get in a limited session on Friday and sounds like he’ll be ready to go. In addition to Crosby, the Raiders also listed CB Brandon Facyson (shin) and LB Kana’i Mauga (knee) as questionable for Week 14.

The Raiders signed Facyson to a one-year deal this offseason after he spent all of last season with the Colts. The veteran corner has been sidelined all week with a shin injury, and now lands on short-term IR to help free up space for Josh Jacobs. Facyson will be eligible to return no earlier than Week 5 against the Packers.

Facyson started nine games for the Raiders in 2021 before playing the 2022 in Indianapolis. He’ll return to Las Vegas having started just 17 games during a five-year NFL career. The details of the signing have yet to be released.

Facyson got more run than he ever had before for Vegas’ secondary last year and responded with a rough 42.5 PFF coverage grade. With Xavier Rhodes a free agent, the Colts needed some help at corner alongside Kenny Moore and Rock Ya-Sin. Facyson qualifies more as depth than a complete answer, but he does re-unite with former Raiders DC Gus Bradley in Indianapolis.

Facyson’s placement comes five days after the Chargers traded slot stud Desmond King, and the same day Keenan Allen was added to the injury report as “questionable” with an illness. Facyson has played 219 snaps this season. The Bolts are going to be Week 9 short-handed in the secondary against the Raiders.

Facyson (6’2/203) made 47 starts in the Hokies’ secondary, logging nine career tackles for loss and five interceptions, but no picks after his 2013 true freshman year. He did set an all-time Virginia Tech record for pass breakups (44), and PFF College credited Facyson with a 38.1% completion rate allowed in 2017. Big and long with adequate speed (4.53), Facyson’s early college career was riddled by leg injuries, including a fracture and another stress reaction, so he will be a 24-year-old rookie. Nevertheless, Facyson is a toolsy enough press-corner prospect to have a shot at an Eric Rowe-like career.