The Browns' offensive line has had no shortage of tests against premier rushers this season.
In their first 10 games, the Browns have played Bengals DE Trey Hendrickson, Lions EDGE Aidan Hutchinson and Packers DL Micah Parsons – not to mention blocking DE Myles Garrett in practice.
Cleveland will face another elite edge rusher in DE Maxx Crosby in Week 12 against the Raiders. The offensive line will garner the responsibility of protecting QB Shedeur Sanders in his first regular season start against Crosby.
"He's a great player. He plays tremendously hard, plays a lot of snaps," G Joel Bitonio said. "I think he plays hard and it's contagious, like the whole d-line plays hard off of that. He's so slippery."
Crosby has six sacks this season and is third in the NFL with 14 tackles for loss. He has a tackle in the backfield in eight of 10 games this season, including starting the season by recording a tackle for loss in six consecutive games.
Crosby's versatility in finding ways to impact games is another reason why he is so dangerous to play. Against the Bears in Week 4, he waited for QB Caleb Williams to pass before throwing his hands up to bat the ball up at the line of scrimmage and intercept the pass. When the Raiders faced the Cowboys in Week 11, Crosby stayed patient and waited for a hole to open up in the offensive line. As soon as a gap opened up, he attacked and strip-sacked QB Dak Prescott.
"He's obviously a great player, extremely disruptive, both the run and pass," offensive coordinator Tommy Rees said. "Even when he's not getting to the passer, he affects so many passes by getting his hands up, getting in passing lanes. I think he does a nice job of reading the quarterback and when he's not getting a great rush, finding ways to mirror and disrupt the ball. Relentless front side, backside of the run game. Like his motor is tremendous, and he's one of those guys across the league that can really impact games and change games defensively."
He changes games defensively as well, staying on the field for more than 90 percent of defensive snaps for four consecutive seasons. He has played 609 snaps on defense this season, 91 percent of the Raiders' defensive plays.
"He goes 100 miles an hour about 100 percent of the time," head coach Kevin Stefanski said. "He has the energy and the effort, the finish for a 60-minute football game. It's really impressive. He can line up on either side, he can really show up anywhere on the field. But the way he plays is truly remarkable."
Browse photos of the Cleveland Browns practicing at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus as they prepare for their Week 12 game against the Las Vegas Raiders.
Offensive guard Joel Bitonio (75) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Cornerback Tyson Campbell (7) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Defensive tackle Mason Graham (94) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Cornerback Denzel Ward (21) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Running back Quinshon Judkins (10) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Defensive end Isaiah McGuire (57) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Wide receiver Gage Larvadain (84) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Wide receiver Kaden Davis (89) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Running back Raheim Sanders (35) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
A helmet during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Defensive tackle Mason Graham (94) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (44) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Safety Rayshawn Jenkins (5) and Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Cornerback Myles Harden (26) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Wide receiver Malachi Corley (83) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Cleats during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Defensive end K.J. Henry (90) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
A Gatorade bottles during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Quarterback Bailey Zappe (11) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (44) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Running back Raheim Sanders (35) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Defensive end Isaiah McGuire (57) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Wide receiver Gage Larvadain (84) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Running back Dylan Sampson (22) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Defensive end K.J. Henry (90) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Cornerback Tyson Campbell (7) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Wide receiver Malachi Corley (83) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Wide receiver Malachi Corley (83) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Linebacker Jerome Baker (17) and Linebacker Eugene Asante (36) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Cornerback Dee Williams (29) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Safety Grant Delpit (9) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Cornerback Sam Webb (27) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Offensive tackle Thayer Munford Jr. (64) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Safeties Coach Ephraim Banda during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Running back Dylan Sampson (22) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Assistant Special Teams Coach Kyle Hoke during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Wide receiver Luke Floriea (81) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Defensive end Myles Garrett (95) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Safety Rayshawn Jenkins (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Defensive end Isaiah McGuire (57) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Defensive back D'Angelo Ross (20) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Coordinator of Team Logistics Wat Adair during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (44) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Head Coach Kevin Stefanski during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Assistant Wide Receivers Coach Stephen Bravo-Brown during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Running back Quinshon Judkins (10) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Offensive guard Zak Zinter (70) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
A Gatorade bottle during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) and Running back Dylan Sampson (22) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Offensive tackle Tyre Phillip (69) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins (96) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Wide receiver Malachi Corley (83) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Tight end Blake Whiteheart (86) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Linebacker Eugene Asante (36) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Defensive back D'Angelo Ross (20) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Running back Jerome Ford (34) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Running back Quinshon Judkins (10) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Wide receiver Isaiah Bond (16) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Defensive end Cameron Thomas (99) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Wide receiver Luke Floriea (81) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Wide receiver Kaden Davis (89) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Wide receiver Jamari Thrash (80) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Assistant Groundskeeper Shaun Card and Kicker Andre Szmyt (25) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Assistant Strength and Conditioning Coach Dale Jones during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Wide receiver Kaden Davis (89) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Wide receiver Gage Larvadain (84) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins (96) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins (96) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Wide receiver Isaiah Bond (16) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Sports Medicine Fellow Nandit Patel during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Wide receiver Luke Floriea (81) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Wide receiver Jerry Jeudy (3) and Wide receiver Isaiah Bond (16) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Assistant Groundskeeper Shaun Card during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Offensive tackle Jack Conklin (78) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Assistant Wide Receivers Coach Stephen Bravo-Brown during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Running back Quinshon Judkins (10) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Wide receiver Cedric Tillman (19) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Wide receiver Isaiah Bond (16) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Wide receiver Gage Larvadain (84) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Tight end Harold Fannin Jr. (44) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Assistant Special Teams Coach Kyle Hoke during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Tight end Brenden Bates (82) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Running back Dylan Sampson (22) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Wide receiver Gage Larvadain (84) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
The scenery during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Linebacker Easton Mascarenas-Arnold (42) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Wide receiver Luke Floriea (81) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
The linebackers during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Equipment Intern Sasoun Tcholakian during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Wide receiver Isaiah Bond (16) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Defensive tackle Maliek Collins (96) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Defensive tackle Mason Graham (94) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Defensive Quality Control Coach Jeff Anderson during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Safety Rayshawn Jenkins (5) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Linebacker Mohamoud Diabate (43) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Performance Science Fellow Jeremy Portillo during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Linebackers Coach Jason Tarver during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
Quarterback Shedeur Sanders (12) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 19, 2025.
Linebacker Devin Bush (30) and Linebacker Carson Schwesinger (49) during practice at CrossCountry Mortgage Campus on November 20, 2025.
With Sanders at quarterback and Crosby on the other side of the line of scrimmage, Bitonio said the key to keeping the pocket safe is the basics. Cleveland has used double teams and chips to help curb the impacts of other edge rushers they have faced this season. However, putting an extra man on a defender helps open up space for the rest of the defense. With other defensive players like DT Jonah Laulu who has four sacks or LB Devin White who has seven tackles for loss, keeping the pocket secure is important for the Browns.
"You want to be fundamentally sound. You want to trust what you do well as a pass blocker," Bitonio said. "Each guy is so different that you have to play into that and hopefully get some chips and some double teams and some slides your way to give you a little bit more confidence to be a little bit more aggressive with these guys."
Crosby's versatility requires constant awareness and discipline from the offensive line as Cleveland looks to run its offense with Sanders in Week 12. The offensive line will have a strategy in order to make Sanders' first regular start as smooth as possible.
"You see him moving and doing these things and he just slips off blocks or finds a way to get his hands on the ball, and I think we'll have a decent plan to try and contain that," Bitonio said.
