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Raiders Hold Out Cousins, Crosby After Fight; Mendoza Shines

8/9/2026

43 7 Full Breakdown

Summary

Raiders Holdout

The Raiders placed quarterback Kirk Cousins and defensive end Maxx Crosby on a one-day holdout on August 8, 2026 after a fight the night before.
Crosby struck Cousins’ arm twice, prompting Cousins to grab Crosby’s jersey and exchange words before teammates intervened.
Head coach Klint Kubiak said the two violated team-practice rules and imposed the holdout.
Kubiak said both will return to practice Monday while the team rests Sunday.

Summary

Mendoza Shines

Rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza threw three red-zone touchdowns and five straight passes in a two-minute drill.
Coach Klint Kubiak said the suspension let Mendoza start the offense for the first time.
Quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan noted Mendoza is no longer repeating mistakes and is adding new layers.
Maxx Crosby’s trade to the Baltimore Ravens fell through in March after the team raised long-term medical concerns.

History

Historical Context

In 1993 the Dallas Cowboys held running back Emmitt Smith out of training camp and the first two games after a locker-room dispute, prompting debate over team discipline. The episode showed teams could impose swift penalties, a pattern echoed in 2026 when the Las Vegas Raiders suspended quarterback Kirk Cousins and defensive end Maxx Crosby for a one-day holdout after an altercation.

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Raiders Holdout

The Raiders placed quarterback Kirk Cousins and defensive end Maxx Crosby on a one-day holdout on August 8, 2026 after a fight the night before.
Crosby struck Cousins’ arm twice, prompting Cousins to grab Crosby’s jersey and exchange words before teammates intervened.
Head coach Klint Kubiak said the two violated team-practice rules and imposed the holdout.
Kubiak said both will return to practice Monday while the team rests Sunday.

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