Tension at Raiders Practice: Crosby and Cousins Clash

Maxx Crosby, a standout pass rusher for the Las Vegas Raiders, has a knack for unsettling his opponents, regardless of the season or rival. On Friday, during practice in Henderson, Nevada, Crosby managed to provoke quarterback Kirk Cousins.

During a team period, Crosby hit Cousins’ arm twice. This irked the typically calm quarterback, causing him to confront Crosby. Cousins grabbed his jersey, and the two exchanged heated words before teammates intervened.

The scene concluded with Cousins continuing the drive with the first-team offense while the staff sidelined Crosby. Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak acknowledged such incidents are common during training camp. “Those are two leaders of our team going at it, so that is part of camp,” Kubiak remarked. He emphasized the importance of maintaining composure, especially during games, noting that fights could lead to penalties or ejections.

Raiders tight end Michael Mayer appreciated Cousins for his assertiveness but highlighted the risks of further escalation. “We don’t want to be throwing punches, but I think on any padded day of camp, there’s going to be some tussles,” Mayer said. He expressed his admiration for Cousins’ leadership qualities while noting the necessity for caution to avoid penalties.

Despite drafting Fernando Mendoza as the No. 1 overall pick, the Raiders have appointed Cousins to lead the opening of the camp. He has been taking most of the first-team reps in practice, positioning him as the likely starting quarterback for the season opener against the Miami Dolphins in Week 1.