Cousins and Crosby Sidelined as Mendoza Throws 2 Red Zone TDs

Kirk Cousins and Maxx Crosby were held out of Saturday's 11-on-11 drills following a Friday altercation, allowing Fernando Mendoza to lead the first-team offense.

HENDERSON, Nev. — Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins and defensive end Maxx Crosby were barred from 11-on-11 team periods during Saturday’s practice following a physical altercation on Friday. The disciplinary measure, confirmed by head coach Klint Kubiak, resulted in top pick Fernando Mendoza taking all repetitions with the first-team offense. During the red zone period, Mendoza recorded two touchdown passes, connecting with Tre Tucker and Brock Bowers. The rookie quarterback concluded the session by completing five consecutive passes during a two-minute drill to position the offense for a field goal.

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The disciplinary action stemmed from a heated sequence during Friday's team period where Crosby, a five-time Pro Bowler, struck Cousins twice. After the edge rusher hit the 15-year veteran’s arm a second time, Cousins grabbed Crosby’s jersey and the two exchanged words before teammates intervened. While both players participated in individual drills and stretching on Saturday morning, they remained on the sideline for the duration of the full-team sessions. Kubiak noted that the decision to sit the pair was an internal matter designed to maintain the integrity of the training environment.

Klint Kubiak cited a violation of internal standards as the reason for the benching, stating the organization has very clear expectations regarding how they want to practice. The head coach noted that the incident was addressed directly with the roster to ensure every player understood the boundaries of physical contact during non-padded or light-contact drills. Kubiak characterized the scuffle as a byproduct of training camp intensity but emphasized that he expects his two primary leaders to exercise better emotional control. Despite the Friday scuffle, both Cousins and Crosby had finished the remainder of that specific practice before the Saturday suspension was enacted.

With the starters sidelined, Fernando Mendoza managed the offensive tempo throughout the morning. Quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan described the performance as solid, noting that the staff is pleased with the rookie's current progression. Mendoza overcame a few off-target throws and handled multiple snap issues to finish the two-minute period with a perfect completion rate. The team did not report any turnovers during Mendoza's time with the starting unit, though the coaching staff expressed a desire for him to continue improving his consistency. The rookie's ability to find Tucker in the corner of the end zone highlighted his growing chemistry with the receiving corps.

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Defensive tackle Jonah Laulu and guard Caleb Rogers were also involved in a separate fight during Friday’s session. Unlike Cousins and Crosby, both Laulu and Rogers were permitted to participate fully in Saturday’s practice, suggesting the coaching staff viewed their interaction differently. The Raiders are scheduled for an off day on Sunday, providing a cooling-off period for the entire roster. According to Kubiak, both Cousins and Crosby are expected to return to the field and resume normal practice activities on Monday. The disciplinary holdout was limited to the single Saturday session following the Friday afternoon incident.

During the absence of the veteran duo, the defensive front had to adjust its pass-rush rotations. Tyree Wilson and Malcolm Koonce saw increased snaps with the primary unit, attempting to pressure Mendoza during the two-minute simulation. On the offensive side, the line worked to protect the rookie signal-caller against a variety of blitz packages installed by the defensive staff. The session lasted approximately two hours under the Henderson sun, focusing heavily on situational football and red zone efficiency. Coaches utilized the film from this practice to evaluate depth players who rarely receive opportunities with the first-string talent.

Observers noted that Cousins spent a significant portion of the morning standing near the offensive huddle, offering advice to Mendoza between series. Crosby remained active on the sideline as well, coaching up the younger defensive ends and discussing technique with the training staff. This level of engagement suggested that while the players were restricted from physical participation, their roles as mentors remained intact. The atmosphere at the Intermountain Health Performance Center remained focused, with no further extracurricular activities reported during the Saturday drills. The team looks to move past the friction as they prepare for the upcoming preseason schedule.