In a surprising turn of events during training camp,
Disciplinary Action Following Altercation
Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak confirmed that both Cousins and Crosby would return to practice on Monday, as the team has a scheduled day off on Sunday. Kubiak emphasized the importance of maintaining a professional atmosphere during practice, stating, "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, so [we] held those guys out." He refrained from providing further details, indicating that the matter had been addressed internally and the team was ready to move forward.
During Saturday's practice, Cousins and Crosby participated in stretching and individual drills but were not involved in the team scrimmage. The altercation on Friday reportedly escalated when Crosby struck Cousins during a drill, prompting a heated exchange between the two players. Despite the intensity of the moment, both continued to practice after the incident, highlighting the competitive nature of training camp.
Rookie Quarterback Shines Amidst Turmoil
With Cousins and Crosby out, Mendoza took advantage of the opportunity to showcase his skills. Although he faced some challenges, including a few inaccurate throws and issues with the snap, he managed to impress during the red zone drills. Mendoza connected with wide receivers Tre Tucker and Brock Bowers for two touchdown passes, demonstrating his potential as a key player for the Raiders.
In the concluding two-minute drill of practice, Mendoza completed five consecutive passes, effectively setting up a field goal attempt. Quarterback coach Mike Sullivan expressed optimism about Mendoza's development, stating, "We want to get [Mendoza] to be even better, but we're pleased with where [he's] at right now." As the team prepares for the upcoming season, the focus will be on fostering a disciplined environment while nurturing the talents of emerging players like Mendoza.
