Full Breakdown
Raiders Suspend Cousins and Crosby After Training-Camp Scuffle
8/9/2026, 8:28:56 PM
Training-Camp Scuffle Leads to One-Day Suspension
On August 7, 2026, during a Raiders practice in Henderson, Nevada, quarterback Kirk Cousins and defensive end Maxx Crosby made contact. Crosby hit Cousins’ arm twice, prompting Cousins to grab Crosby’s jersey and exchange words before teammates intervened. The next day, August 8, 2026, head coach Klint Kubiak announced that both players would miss all 11-on-11 drills as disciplinary action. The suspension applied only to team drills; both continued individual work.
Background: Raiders Enter a New Era
The Raiders are rebuilding after a 3-14 record in 2025. New head coach Klint Kubiak signed Cousins to a two-year, $12.6 million deal in April and drafted Heisman winner Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 overall pick. Crosby, a five-time Pro Bowler, was slated for a trade to the Ravens that fell through after medical concerns. The incident occurred as the team worked to set practice standards under Kubiak.
Official Statements & Responses
- Klint Kubiak said the team has “very clear expectations” for practice conduct and that the suspension was a direct response to a rule violation.
- He noted Crosby’s career total of 40 penalties, including eight for roughing the passer.
- Maxx Crosby acknowledged the rulebook, stating, “I got up a whole textbook full of rules that I got to follow, or I’m going to get in trouble.”
Impact on Quarterback Competition
With Cousins sidelined, rookie Mendoza ran the first-team offense in camp, completing three touchdown passes to tight ends Brock Bowers and Michael Mayer and to wide receiver Tre Tucker while showing mobility under pressure. The extra reps gave Mendoza a tangible audition, though Kubiak has not announced any depth-chart changes. Cousins, 37, remains the projected starter for the regular season.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on what triggered the scuffle. *Heavy* describes Crosby “tipping” Cousins’ pass, leading the quarterback to charge, while *AhnFireDigital* and *CBS Sports* report that Crosby struck Cousins’ arm twice. All accounts agree no punches were thrown and teammates intervened. No official aggressor has been identified, and the long-term impact on the players’ standing is still unclear.
Verbatim Quotes
- “We have very clear expectations on how we want to practice and how we want to go about our business and we violated that yesterday, so held those guys out. That's all I'm gonna say about it,” — Klint Kubiak, head coach
- “Those are two leaders of our team going at it, so that is part of camp,” — Klint Kubiak, head coach
- “I got up a whole textbook full of rules that I got to follow, or I’m going to get in trouble, but that comes with it,” — Maxx Crosby
