Raiders sit Cousins, Crosby after practice scuffle
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- Klint Kubiak benched Kirk Cousins and Maxx Crosby from Saturday's practice for disciplinary reasons, telling reporters the pair had violated the team's "very clear expectations" during Friday's session
- Kirk Cousins and Maxx Crosby tangled in Friday's team period — five-time Pro Bowler Crosby hit Cousins twice, the second time on the arm, prompting the 15-year veteran to grab Crosby's jersey before teammates separated them
- Fernando Mendoza, the Raiders' top pick, took first-team offensive snaps in their absence, throwing touchdowns to Tre Tucker and Brock Bowers during red-zone work and completing five straight passes in the two-minute period to set up a field goal
- Quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan said of Mendoza, "We want to get [him] to be even better, but we're pleased with where [he's] at right now"
- A separate Friday fight between defensive tackle Jonah Laulu and guard Caleb Rogers drew no discipline — both players participated in Saturday's practice
- Both Cousins and Crosby will return to practice Monday, per Kubiak; the team is off Sunday. Both stretched with the team and ran individual drills Saturday before being held out of 11-on-11 work.
Why it matters: New coach Klint Kubiak is establishing authority by benching two of the team's most prominent veterans for crossing a conduct line, signaling that stars aren't exempt from team standards on a new staff. For top pick Fernando Mendoza, the unplanned first-team reps — two red-zone touchdowns and a five-for-five two-minute drill — give the coaching staff tangible evidence of his readiness far earlier than expected.
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