Now that the pads are on at Las Vegas Raiders training camp, tempers are starting to flare up a bit more. In fact, there were a couple of scuffles during the team’s Friday practice.
The most notable dust-up of the day was between defensive end Maxx Crosby and quarterback Kirk Cousins.
“Things got feisty at end of Raiders camp. Maxx Crosby tipped pass from Kirk Cousins in backfield, and Kirk got in his face afterwards. Grabbed his collar and shouting match ensued,” The Athletic’s Sam Warren wrote on X.
“Seemed to light a fire under Kirk, who had some picks today. Was surgical in 2 min situation after.”
Cousins and Crosby are two likely team captains and have always been fiery competitors. Their scuffle isn’t going to cause long-term issues between the two. Crosby is especially known for being a bit of an antagonist. Head coach Klint Kubiak doesn’t sound worried about it.
“Yeah, that’s training camp,” Kubiak said in his press conference after practice. “Those are two leaders of our team going at it. So, that is part of camp. Obviously, you fight in a game, you throw a punch in the game, especially, then you’re out of the game. So, we’ve got to be smart, treat it like a game.”
Michael Mayer Addresses Fight
Crosby is the leader of the team, but offensive players are going to have their quarterback’s back always. Quarterbacks aren’t usually the ones getting into scuffles, but tight end Michael Mayer was fired up to see Cousins defend himself against a ferocious competitor like Crosby.
“That’s our starting quarterback 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,” Mayer told reporters.
Cousins Ranked as Tier 3 QB
Cousins is still new to the Raiders, so it’s going to take time for him to really establish himself. Even with No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza waiting in the wings, Cousins will be the likely starter.
The Athletic’s Mike Sando recently polled people around the NFL to put each starting quarterback into tiers. Cousins was ranked at the bottom of tier three. He just hasn’t been the same player since he tore his Achilles.
“That’s a hard injury to overcome at that age,” a former general manager told Sando. “He never was a strong-armed quarterback. He never was a great mover. Those things have gotten less.”
Some people around the NFL are still confident in his ability, but he’s not likely to be a Pro Bowl-level player again.
“Skill-wise, he is a 3, but I don’t know if he will be able to hold up,” another general manager told Sando. “That is why I put him in the 4 category. If they did not have Mendoza, would they be comfortable with Kirk lasting 17 games? My answer would be probably not.”
The Raiders just need Cousins to be solid for one season as they give Mendoza time to get ready.
Klint Kubiak Has Stern Response to Kirk Cousins-Maxx Crosby Fight