Kirk Cousins Explains Heated Exchanges With Raiders' Maxx Crosby and Texans, 'Don't Touch My Arm'

Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Kirk Cousins was not pleased near the end of his team's joint practice with the Houston Texans on Tuesday, and he explained why during a chat with reporters afterward.

"My elbow got hit," Cousins said, per Adam Hill of the Las Vegas Review-Journal. "I joke with [Raiders star defensive end Maxx Crosby], and I say, 'You can touch me anywhere you want, just don't touch my arm.' You want to bump me in the ribs? Fine. I think if anything, hitting me in the hips or the ribs is actually good because it simulates what I need to feel."

Cousins and Crosby got into it at the Raiders' Aug. 7 practice. Per ESPN's Ryan McFadden, Crosby hit Cousins twice during a team period.

Sam Warren of The Athletic provided more insight.

The two players were held out of the following day's practices due to their actions, per head coach Klint Kubiak to reporters.

"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 held those guys out. That's all I'm gonna say about it," Kubiak said.

Fast-forward to this week, and it appears that Cousins simply doesn't want to get hit on the arm. That's understandable with him being a quarterback, of course.

The 38-year-old Cousins is in town on a one-year, $11.3 million contract, per Over the Cap. The four-time Pro Bowler is essentially serving as the veteran bridge quarterback as Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft, waits in the wings.

Kubiak told reporters after the Raiders' 27-14 preseason-opening loss to the Arizona Cardinals regarding Cousins that the QB1 job is "his to lose." So at this juncture, the expectation is he'll be leading the Silver and Black when they open the season on Sunday, Sept. 13 at home vs. the Miami Dolphins.