Maxx Crosby and Kirk Cousins disciplined
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins and defensive end Maxx Crosby were held out of team drills on August 8, 2026, after teammates separated them during a confrontation at Friday’s practice.
Head Coach Klint Kubiak said both players violated the Raiders’ established practice expectations. Crosby had tipped a Cousins pass before the quarterback moved toward him, prompting teammates to intervene quickly.
Kirk Cousins reacted after tipped pass
Cousins appeared upset after Crosby tipped his pass and forced an incompletion during practice on August 7. The quarterback moved toward Crosby before teammates quickly stepped in to separate the two players.
Kubiak described the confrontation as part of training camp but stressed that players must remain disciplined. He noted that physical altercations during NFL games can result in penalties or ejections.
Raiders enforced practice expectations
Kubiak kept Cousins and Crosby out of every team period Saturday while allowing them to participate in stretching and individual drills. He said the Raiders addressed the matter internally and moved forward.
Las Vegas had a scheduled rest day on Sunday before returning to practice Monday morning. Reports indicated Cousins and Crosby would resume work after serving the one-practice team-drill restriction imposed Saturday.
Kirk Cousins entered camp as QB1
Cousins opened Raiders training camp as the starting quarterback. Kubiak said the veteran would receive extensive first-team repetitions while Fernando Mendoza and Aidan O’Connell competed and continued developing behind him.
Las Vegas signed Cousins on April 6, 2026, after two seasons with Atlanta. The four-time Pro Bowl selection entered his 15th NFL season with 44,700 passing yards and 298 career touchdown passes.
Fernando Mendoza gained first team reps
Mendoza received his first training-camp opportunity to run the starting offense when Cousins missed Saturday’s team periods. The rookie faced Las Vegas’ first-team defense and showed mobility through mixed results.
Mendoza threw touchdown passes to Brock Bowers, Michael Mayer, and Tre Tucker. Quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan said the rookie had improved since spring practices and was avoiding repeated mistakes as camp progressed.
Fernando Mendoza arrived as No. 1 pick
Las Vegas selected Mendoza first overall in the 2026 NFL Draft after his championship season at Indiana. He became the first Heisman Trophy winner in school history and led the Hoosiers to 16-0.
Mendoza completed 72% of his passes for 3,535 yards and 41 touchdowns in 2025. The Raiders selected him as their future quarterback while planning to let him develop behind experienced competition.
Maxx Crosby nearly joined Baltimore
The Raiders agreed on March 6, 2026, to trade Crosby to Baltimore for two first-round draft selections. The transaction remained subject to completion of a physical and the new league year.
Baltimore withdrew from the agreement after medical concerns involving Crosby’s knee. He returned to Las Vegas, continued rehabilitation following meniscus surgery, and was back on the practice field when camp opened.
Maxx Crosby returned after knee procedure
Crosby finished the 2025 season with 10 sacks before the Raiders placed him on injured reserve for the final two games. He later underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus in his left knee.
Crosby returned to practice at the start of training camp after rehabilitation. He said multiple coaches had reminded him to respect the team’s non-contact policy for quarterbacks and keep Cousins upright during practice.
Klint Kubiak sets his Raiders standard
Kubiak is entering his first season as Las Vegas Head Coach after the Raiders finished 3-14 in 2025. During camp, he has emphasized competitive practices while requiring players to follow team rules.
Kubiak applied those expectations to Cousins and Crosby after their confrontation. Both veterans participated in individual work on Saturday but were kept out of team periods because coaches determined they had violated practice standards.
Michael Mayer explains practice balance
Tight end Michael Mayer said padded practices can produce tense moments, but players must avoid actions that bring penalties or ejections during games. He also supported Cousins in showing competitiveness during camp.
Cousins stayed on the field and completed Friday’s drive after the confrontation, while Crosby went to the sideline. Both players then remained out of all team periods during Saturday’s practice.
Fun fact: Kirk Cousins gained the nickname “Kirko Chainz” after a shirtless 2022 plane celebration covered in teammates’ jewelry. Quarterback branding can get weird fast.
Raiders preseason opener was approaching
Las Vegas was preparing to host Arizona in its preseason opener on August 13. Kubiak had not announced how he planned to divide quarterback snaps when Mendoza received increased first-team work Saturday.
Mendoza faced the starting defense while Cousins sat out team periods. Sullivan praised the rookie’s communication, under-center work, and improvement since spring while emphasizing that his development remained an ongoing process.
Kirk Cousins brings veteran experience
Cousins entered Las Vegas with 167 NFL starts and four Pro Bowl selections. He earned one Pro Bowl honor with Washington and three during his six seasons with Minnesota.
Kubiak opened camp with Cousins as the starting quarterback while Mendoza developed behind him. Saturday’s discipline temporarily changed that rotation and gave the rookie his first opportunity against the starting defense.
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Raiders leaders face equal standards
Kubiak described Cousins and Crosby as two leaders of the Raiders. After their Friday confrontation, the coaching staff kept both veterans out of Saturday’s team periods while allowing them individual practice.
The Raiders announced no additional discipline beyond Saturday’s team-period restriction. Both veterans remained part of the roster as Las Vegas continued preparations for its August 13 preseason opener against Arizona.
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Did the Raiders handle Maxx Crosby and Kirk Cousins fairly by holding both veterans out of team drills, or did the punishment go too far? Share your thoughts in the comments below!
This slideshow was made with AI assistance and human editing.
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