Las Vegas Raiders rookie Fernando Mendoza got a valuable opportunity as Kirk Cousins and Maxx Crosby’s training camp clash creates unexpected buzz in Las Vegas.
The Raiders held Cousins and Crosby out of Saturday’s practice after the two got into a fight a day earlier, head coach Klint Kubiak told reporters.
“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,” Kubiak said.
Raiders coach Klint Kubiak made an example…
Both players sat out team periods but are expected to return Monday, when the Raiders next practice as a team. They do not have a team session Sunday.
The scuffle opened the door for rookie Fernando Mendoza to take his first snaps with the first-team offense. By most accounts, he made the most of it. Mendoza started slowly but picked up steam as the workout progressed. He connected on several tight-window throws. Additionally, he found the end zone more than once in red-zone and goal-line drills. He did not, however, push the ball downfield much. All of this according to reporters on-site.
The Cousins-Crosby dust-up marks the first notable friction of camp for a Raiders team that has otherwise generated buzz around its quarterback competition and pass rush. Cousins, brought in to stabilize the position, and Crosby, the franchise’s top defensive player, are both established veterans, which made Friday’s altercation notable enough that Kubiak addressed it directly with the media rather than letting it slide.
Related: The Maxx Crosby and Kirk Cousins scuffle was a nothing burger
Neither Kubiak nor the players went into detail about what sparked the confrontation. Fights are hardly unusual during NFL training camps, especially once the pads come on. But sitting two of the team’s most prominent players for an entire practice is a strong response. Certainly one that most coaching staffs wouldn’t typically make public.
The fallout from the scuffle continues…
The incident also comes amid chatter around the league about defensive-line needs elsewhere, with ESPN’s Josina Anderson noting Saturday that “there are still teams looking for defensive upgrades/assistance,” though she did not tie that observation directly to Crosby or the Raiders.
For now, the Raiders’ bigger story line is Mendoza’s audition. With Cousins and Crosby set to return Monday, his run with the starters may prove to be a one-day cameo. Still, it was enough to turn a few heads, as a day camp was supposed to be about competition, not confrontation.
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