Training camp scuffles have become fairly common around the NFL, and the Las Vegas Raiders are no exception.
Tempers flared during the Raiders’ training camp practice on Friday, as defensive end Maxx Crosby and quarterback Kirk Cousins got into a heated exchange, prompting former NFL linebacker Will Compton to weigh in.
Will Compton Has Hilarious Take on Kirk Cousins Vs. Maxx Crosby Confrontation
Aggression during practice is nothing unfamiliar for Crosby, as he has played with that edge since his college days. As he works his way back into the Raiders’ lineup after knee surgery, he has also been tasked with finding the right balance with that physical style.
However, Crosby’s trademark intensity was on full display on Friday when he hit Cousins twice. After Crosby made contact with Cousins’ arm for the second time, the quarterback had had enough and confronted the defensive star, reportedly grabbing his jersey as the two exchanged words before teammates separated them.
There were no punches thrown, but Cousins made it obvious that he wasn’t going to allow Crosby to push him around on the practice field.
Compton, meanwhile, decided to weigh in on the confrontation between the two veterans.
“Knowing both of these guys. Kirk Cousins would beat the tattoos off of Maxx Crosby,” Compton wrote.
Knowing both of these guys…
Kirk Cousins would beat the tattoos off of Maxx Crosby https://t.co/6F6boRuv1g
— Will Compton (@_willcompton) August 8, 2026
Cousins joined the Raiders after spending the previous two seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, where his journey was filled with ups and downs. His competition with the Raiders’ No. 1 pick, Fernando Mendoza, has become one of the biggest talking points in Sin City.
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Meanwhile, Crosby is back in Las Vegas after a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it nearly-trade to Baltimore. The Raiders initially traded him to the Ravens in March, but Baltimore sent him back after medical concerns emerged during his physical.
Crosby now goes back to being the centerpiece of the Raiders’ defense as he enters his eighth NFL season.
As for the scuffle, Raiders coach Klint Kubiak saw the incident as a normal part of training camp, but he wants his players to remain smart when tensions rise.
“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 a game, then you’re out of the game. So we’ve got to be smart and treat it like a game.”
Cousins remained on the field to complete the drive following the scuffle.
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Meanwhile, Crosby, who finished last season with an 89.3 grade in the PFN EDGE Impact Rankings, was immediately sent to the sideline, triggering a response from tight end Michael Mayer.
“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 it 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.”
Though the confrontation between Crosby and Cousins became the main talking point, it came at the end of another strong practice for the Raiders’ defense. It also wasn’t the only altercation on Friday, as defensive lineman Jonah Laulu reportedly punched right guard Caleb Rogers earlier in the session.
