Raiders Discipline Maxx Crosby and Kirk Cousins Following Training Camp Altercation
Las Vegas Raiders stars Maxx Crosby and Kirk Cousins were held out of team sessions Saturday following a physical confrontation during Friday's practice. The incident occurred after Crosby twice struck the quarterback, prompting an on-field scuffle and a shift in first-team reps.
Key takeaways
- Maxx Crosby and Kirk Cousins were held out of Saturday's practice for violating team rules during a physical altercation.
- The scuffle was triggered by Crosby hitting Cousins twice during a team period despite quarterbacks wearing protective red jerseys.
- Rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza received first-team repetitions as a direct result of the disciplinary action taken against the starters.
- This incident adds to a history of disciplinary issues regarding Crosby's over-aggressive behavior during practice sessions dating back to college.
What Happened
Las Vegas Raiders defensive end Maxx Crosby and quarterback Kirk Cousins were sidelined during Saturday’s team sessions in Las Vegas following a physical altercation during Friday's practice. According to reports, Crosby hit Cousins twice during a team period, violating the standard protocol prohibiting contact with quarterbacks, who wear red jerseys to signal they are off-limits for hits.
Following the second hit, Cousins confronted Crosby and grabbed his jersey before teammates intervened to break up the pair. Head coach Klint Kubiak characterized the decision to sit both players as a response to a violation of team rules.
Why It Matters
The disciplinary action forced a change in the Raiders' depth chart for the weekend. In the absence of Cousins, rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the team's number one draft pick, received his first opportunity to take reps with the first-team offense. While the Raiders have indicated they do not intend to move away from Cousins as the starting quarterback despite recent performance issues, the incident disrupted the planned timeline for integrating the veteran starter.
Background
This confrontation follows a documented history of aggressive practice behavior by Crosby. During his collegiate career at Eastern Michigan, coach Chris Creighton reportedly removed him from practice multiple times for excessive aggression. As a professional, Crosby previously faced threats of being cut by former coach Jon Gruden during his 2019 rookie season for batting down balls during practice sessions.
Key Facts
- Maxx Crosby is a five-time Pro Bowl defensive end.
- The altercation began when Crosby initiated contact with Kirk Cousins twice during a Friday team period.
- Coach Klint Kubiak cited a violation of team rules as the reason both players sat out Saturday's session.
- Rookie Fernando Mendoza took over first-team offensive repetitions during the disciplinary period.
- Crosby was a 2019 fourth-round draft pick.
Sources reviewed
Project Chintan independently synthesized and analyzed information cross-checked across the sources listed above.
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