Raiders’ Kirk Cousins and Maxx Crosby Suspended After Practice Fight

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins and defensive end Maxx Crosby were removed from team drills on Saturday following their altercation at practice the previous day. This suspension allowed rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza his first chance to lead the starting offense in training camp.

Coach Klint Kubiak emphasized the team’s expectations for conduct during practice. He stated, “We have very clear expectations about how we want to practice, how you go about our business. We violated that yesterday, so we held those guys out. That’s all I’m going to say about it. We addressed it with the team and we’re moving on.”

The clash between Cousins and Crosby required intervention by teammates. Cousins was reportedly upset after Crosby tipped his pass, leading to an incompletion, causing the quarterback to confront the defensive end. Crosby, who stands three inches taller and weighs 42 pounds more than Cousins, engaged in the altercation.

The Raiders are off on Sunday and will return Monday morning, resuming practice with hopes of avoiding further conflicts, especially between Cousins and Crosby.

Mendoza’s Training Camp Performance

Fernando Mendoza, the rookie quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner from Indiana, was given the opportunity to run the first-team offense against the defense. During practice, Mendoza successfully threw touchdown passes to tight ends Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer and wide receiver Tre Tucker. Although Mendoza experienced some difficulties, his agility allowed him to evade defensive pressure and locate open receivers.

Quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan expressed pleasure with Mendoza’s progress, mentioning improvements since spring. “Fernando continues to improve, and the thing I think we’re very pleased about is from spring to the start of camp, there were some parts of his game we wanted him to improve upon and he has as we’ve added different layers and dimensions,” Sullivan noted.

Coach Kubiak had previously stated that Mendoza would eventually lead the first-team offense during camp, a goal that was realized on Saturday. The timing proves beneficial, given the Raiders’ upcoming preseason opener against the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday night. Kubiak has not disclosed his intended use of quarterbacks during the game, though Mendoza is expected to feature prominently, potentially starting in place of Cousins.

While Cousins is anticipated to begin the season as the starter, Kubiak has made no definitive commitments.

“The visual and verbal communication he’s made, certainly the ability to take snaps under center, those are things we’ve seen him improve upon,” Sullivan said. “He’s going to continue to work on and we want him to still want him to be even better. But we’re pleased with where that’s at right now.”

Injury Updates

Wide receiver Jalen Nailor returned to practice after missing Friday due to an unspecified injury. However, defensive ends Kwity Paye and Keyron Crawford, along with wide receiver Dont’e Thornton Jr., remained absent. Meanwhile, Caleb Rogers, battling Jackson Powers-Johnson for the right guard spot, appeared to sustain an injury to his left arm or elbow but managed to resume practice.

“I feel great,” Rogers commented, without detailing the injury.