Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins confronted defensive end Maxx Crosby during training camp practice on Friday after being hit twice. Crosby smashed into Cousins twice during the session, with the second collision striking the arm of the 15-year veteran quarterback.
Cousins appeared upset that Crosby tipped his pass to force an incompletion. The quarterback then charged Crosby, who stands 6-foot-5 and weighs 256 pounds, making him three inches taller and 42 pounds heavier than Cousins.
According to ESPN, Cousins got into Crosby's face and grabbed his jersey before teammates broke up the exchange of angry words. Cousins remained on the field with the first-team offense to finish the drive, while Crosby was sent to the sideline.
Head coach Klint Kubiak addressed the altercations after practice, describing them as normal competitive tension during training camp. "Those are two leaders of our team going at it, so that is part of camp," Kubiak said. "Obviously, if you fight in a game and throw a punch in game, then you're out of the game. So we've got to be smart and treat it like a game."
Team Reactions and Player Backgrounds
Cousins is widely regarded as one of the most personable players in the NFL, making his outburst unusual. He signed with the Las Vegas Raiders earlier this offseason following a spell with the Atlanta Falcons, which came after six seasons each with the Minnesota Vikings and Washington Commanders.
Tight end Michael Mayer said after practice that he appreciated the competitive edge Cousins showed on the field. "We don't want to be throwing punches, but I think on any padded day of camp, there's going to be some tussles," Mayer said. "That's our starting quarterback right now, and you want him to defend your team and you want him to have some edge to him, which he does. He's always had 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. Nothing like that, but you've got to be able to defend yourself."
Crosby is considered one of the top pass rushers in the NFL. He noted that coaching staff have previously warned him about hitting his own quarterback during team practices. During his college career at Eastern Michigan, Crosby was kicked out of a practice session for being too aggressive.
"When you get out there and bullets are flying, I'm not thinking about not finishing the play. That's just not in my nature," Crosby said at the start of training camp. "That's something I've been dealing with my whole career. It's not easy."
