Kirk Cousins, Maxx Crosby Clash During Heated Raiders Training Camp Practice

Edge Maxx Crosby hit Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins' throwing hand twice at practice.

Kirk Cousins, Maxx Crosby Clash During Heated Raiders Training Camp Practice

Maxx Crosby and Kirk Cousins (Image via IMAGO)

It’s about time the Las Vegas Raiders training camp had a little scuffle. And it was between the two leaders of the team, edge Maxx Crosby and quarterback Kirk Cousins.

Per Sam Warren of The Athletic, Crosby hit Cousins’ arm a second time during Friday’s live 11-on-11 work, which got the veteran signal-caller riled up. Cousins reportedly grabbed hold of Crosby’s jersey and shoved him.

Other players got instantly involved. They separated the two players, defusing the situation before it escalated further. Rather than worrying about their two elder statesmen going at each other, first-year head coach Klint Kubiak raved about both of them.

Those are two leaders on our team going at it. Obviously, fighting in a game [or] you throw a punch in a game, you are out of the game. So, we got to be smart.

Klint Kubiak said via The Athletic

From the outside, these moments may seem like a bad omen, but it only strengthens the camaraderie amongst players, especially at the leadership level. Crosby’s the old guard, and despite Cousins’ experience, he’s still the new face in the Raiders locker room. Regardless, the Raiders fans have already taken a liking to the Pro Bowl signal-caller.

That’s our starting quarterback [Kirk Cousins] right now, and you want him to defend your team. You want him to have some edge to him, which he does. He’s always had that, since the first day I met him when he came in here. I don’t want him getting thrown out. I don’t want him getting a flag or anything like that. But you’ve got to be able to defend yourself.

Tight end Michael Mayer told the Athletic

After spending the 2024 and 2025 seasons in Atlanta, Cousins moved to the AFC West and signed a five-year contract worth up to $172 million with the Raiders. Cousins is expected to assume the role of the starting quarterback in week one, even though the Raiders selected CFP champion Fernando Mendoza first overall in the 2026 draft.

Meanwhile, Crosby nearly left the Raiders for Baltimore in the offseason. The Ravens offered two first-round picks in exchange for the All-Pro edge rusher’s services. However, the Ravens backed out of the deal.

For now, Crosby remains a Raiders player, but teams like the Dallas Cowboys are reportedly interested in trading for him within the next few weeks.

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Kirk Cousins gave ultimate praise to Maxx Crosby

Cousins has been around the block for a while. Drafted 102nd overall in 2012, the 37-year-old is set to start in his fifteenth season in the NFL. During that time, he has shared the locker room with several big-name players. But Cousins feels he has never been teammates with someone of Maxx Crosby’s caliber.

Kirk Cousins, Maxx Crosby Clash During Heated Raiders Training Camp Practice
Maxx Crosby (Image via IMAGO)

On the SiriusXM Radio Show, Cousins said,

You pretty much notice and feel him on every single snap. It’s a major difference maker.

Crosby entered the NFL seven years after Cousins. He was drafted 106th overall in 2019 by the Raiders. Since then, he has made 439 tackles, 69.5 sacks, 133 TFLs, and 11 forced fumbles in 110 games. The 28-year-old has a couple of second-team All-Pro honors and has participated in five Pro Bowls.

Kirk Cousins sent a clear message to rookie Fernando Mendoza

Cousins may be the veteran in the Raiders locker room, but he is well aware that Mendoza is the future of the franchise. But the former Miami man won’t be seeing regular first-team football until Kubiak believes he’s ready.

Speaking with Dan Graziano of ESPN, Cousins revealed that he will hold down the fort until then.

I think the organization is positioned well having drafted Fernando. I’m gonna try to hold him off as long as I can, and we’ll see how it goes up ahead.

The Raiders play three preseason games against the Cardinals, Texans, and 49ers. They open the 2026 NFL season by hosting the Dolphins.

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