Two leaders punished in Las Vegas
The Raiders sent Kirk Cousins and Maxx Crosby home from Saturday’s practice. The pair had gone chest to chest the day before during camp drills, and the club’s internal rules ban fights. The punishment came down fast.
“We have very clear expectations about how we train and work. We broke them yesterday,” coach Klint Kubiak said. He addressed the whole group first, then spoke to both players. Cousins and Crosby will be back on Monday.
It all kicked off over one moment. Crosby landed a second hit on Cousins’ throwing arm. The quarterback fired back, raising his voice and stepping in. That was one of two flashpoints on the day, and Kubiak wanted more from two of his key men.
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An opening for Mendoza
Cousins’ absence opened a door. Fernando Mendoza, the top pick in the latest draft, ran the first-team offense on Saturday. The rookie finished the session in command, hitting tight end Brock Bowers again and again. Bowers has been the standout of camp in Kubiak’s system.
Cousins turns 38 soon and remains the expected starter for the season opener. Mendoza keeps gaining ground. The depth chart has not moved. Still, the episode is a reminder the youngster is pushing hard.
Crosby’s edge under the microscope
The Crosby situation runs deeper than one scrap. The pass rusher had been traded to the Ravens this summer, only for Baltimore to back out after a medical issue raised red flags. Back in Las Vegas, he sat down with staff before camp to talk about his practice intensity.
Crosby is returning from knee surgery. The Raiders want him available, not wrapped in cotton wool. He is not apologizing. “I’ve got a whole rulebook I have to follow, or I’ll get into trouble,” he said. “I train one way. I know I push the line, and sometimes I go over it.”
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