Raiders training camp sees Cousins, Crosby sit out as Mendoza shines

The Las Vegas Raiders held their ninth day of training camp on Thursday, with quarterback Fernando Mendoza receiving first-team reps after teammates Kirk Cousins and defensive end Maxx Crosby were excluded from the day’s drills. Both Cousins and Crosby missed the 11-on-11 and other practice components due to an incident that occurred on Friday.

Mendoza took advantage of the extra repetitions, delivering what the camp staff described as his best day of the session. He was effective in the red-zone, throwing three touchdowns, including a well-timed pass to wide receiver Tre Tucker. In the two-minute drill, Mendoza completed five consecutive passes and helped the offense finish with a field goal before the clock ran out.

The absence of Cousins and Crosby has sparked speculation about possible roster moves, but coaches noted that Mendoza’s performance could increase competition for the starting quarterback role heading into Week 1. Other observations from the day included strong running from Quay Walker, solid coverage by Porter, and continued development of the offensive line in the run game. Defensive end Malcolm Koonce performed well against right tackles, while a rotation continued at the safety positions between Stukes and Isaiah Pola-Mao. Injuries were limited, though wide receiver Rogers left practice with a minor issue and did not return.