HENDERSON, Nev. — Maxx Crosby said he always has a chip on his shoulder “no matter what.”
The Pro Bowl edge rusher was a two-star recruit in high school and received one scholarship offer, from Eastern Michigan. Then, despite a productive college career, Crosby had to wait until the fourth round to hear his name called in the 2019 NFL Draft. Those are among the experiences that drove him to develop a relentless work ethic.
Crosby says a tumultuous offseason only grew the chip on his shoulder. While he’s said he wants to put the happenings of this spring in the past, he admitted Wednesday that he’s allowing another arduous experience to fuel him.
“Of course, there’s added motivation,” Crosby said. “It’s beautiful at the same time. I love being doubted. I love being told I can’t do something because I’ll go to the end of the world to make it happen.”
Maxx Crosby is back in Las Vegas with a vengeance
Sam Warren
The doubts came from the Baltimore Ravens in March. They agreed to acquire Crosby in exchange for a pair of first round picks but backed out of the deal due to concerns about his surgically repaired left knee. A torn meniscus ended Crosby’s 2025 season, and the Ravens knew he was just a few weeks removed from surgery. Worries over his long-term outlook caused them to renege, even while Crosby and his team ensured he was on track to make a full recovery. The retraction caused an unusual but, for many, welcomed return to Las Vegas for the star edge rusher.
As the Raiders opened training camp Wednesday, Crosby got his first chance to show how far he’s come. His rehab didn’t allow him to participate in offseason practices, but head coach Klint Kubiak cleared him to go for training camp. Crosby, getting his first competitive field reps since December, was grateful to finally make his comeback.
“It’s a blessing, man,” Crosby said. “I love this game. I heard all the noise and all those things, but everyone knows that when my back’s against the wall, that’s when I’m at my best. I love the pressure. That’s what I live and thrive on. It’s just added points and gives me a little more reason to go out there and whoop ass.”
Crosby’s appearance at the Sack Summit event earlier this month gave a glimpse into what he can still do. He flashed his explosiveness while doing get-off drills against Cleveland Browns pass rusher Jared Verse during the on-field clinic. That showed up Wednesday as Crosby took all first-team reps on the edge, and his power and speed allowed him to get to the quarterback and disrupt several runs in team drills.
Quarterback Kirk Cousins offered praise for Crosby’s work ethic and effort on the field. But he also joked about his nerves seeing him across the line of scrimmage at training camp, saying he hopes Crosby respects the rules of not hitting him in practice. Crosby, known for always playing with intensity no matter the situation, said Kubiak and defensive coordinator Rob Leonard sought him out before practice to remind him to stay off the quarterback after his long layoff.
“Ultimately, it’s because I want to be the greatest at what I do,” Crosby said of his effort. “And I want to push my teammates to be the greatest version of themselves. So, when you get out there and bullets are flying, I’m not thinking about not going and not finishing the play. That’s just not in my nature.”
Being the greatest is the core principle of Crosby’s mindset, and something he writes in his journal every day. As he returns for the Raiders, he is determined to show he can still play to that level and eager to instill the same disposition in his teammates.
“It’s all about the team and we want to win,” Crosby said. “Ultimately, that’s all that matters… Greatness is measured by how many people you inspire, so I want to bring guys with me.”
Cousins takes lead, Mendoza follows
As expected, Cousins took all the first-team reps at quarterback in the Raiders’ opening practice after Kubiak named him the starter entering training camp. Though rookie Fernando Mendoza’s growth has led the head coach and his staff to give him more opportunities as well.
Mendoza took all the second-team snaps Wednesday behind Cousins, and the two combined to earn the majority of competitive snaps. Mendoza, the No. 1 pick of the 2026 draft, had worked primarily with developmental players and the third unit during the offseason program, while Aidan O’Connell served as Cousins’ backup. Mendoza has progressed enough to warrant a shot to play with veterans in camp and relegate O’Connell.
Increased trust in Mendoza stems from improved command of the offense. Offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko said the rookie has grown in his and Kubiak’s scheme, which is often the biggest challenge for college signal callers making the jump to the pros.
“He’s being able to articulate things, how he sees it in real time,” Janocko said. “He takes it from the meeting room, on the board and in the film, and brings it out here. He’s able to see the picture and then tie his footwork to that.”
Mendoza’s improvement was evident on-field. During seven-on-seven periods, he was quick with his decisions and precise with his ball placement, completing all but one of his throws. And while he didn’t throw much against a full defense, he did find Ian Thomas for a solid gain over the middle and scrambled for yards on a play when he had no one open. He was noticeably more comfortable in his decision-making compared to the spring, when his processing looked slower.
As for Cousins, he brought the same energy and leadership that he’s displayed since arriving in April and a similar comprehension of the offense. He was decisive with his throws, and Cousins would have been responsible for the highlight of the day, a deep touchdown pass to Tre Tucker, if Decamerion Richardson’s coverage penalty didn’t prevent the completion.
Cousins said he’s eager to earn his opportunity every day while being pushed by Mendoza and O’Connell. He believes healthy competition will drive each to become the best they can be ahead of the season’s start.
“I think that’s pro football,” Cousins said. “I just think that’s the world we’ve lived in, even going back to college, is they’re gonna put as many good players in the room as they can and see who can come out as the guy who’s taking the spot to play. But we’re all kind of then supporting one another and working together. So that’s just the journey we’ve always been on, it’s pretty much the norm.”
McCoy back in action
Every member of the active roster participated in the Raiders’ first practice Wednesday, with no player earning an injury designation ahead of camp. That included rookie cornerback Jermod McCoy, who took the field for the first time since the team’s first OTAs practice in May.
McCoy’s participation has been controlled upon joining the Raiders due to a lingering knee issue. The first-round talent fell to Las Vegas in the fourth round not because of the torn left ACL that cost him his final collegiate season, but due to concerns about the long-term health of his knee. McCoy missed all of mandatory minicamp as part of wellness coordinator Alex Guerrero’s management plan, but Kubiak said McCoy will be available to compete during training camp, and those words rang true as they opened practice.
McCoy worked only with the second and third units in his first reps back. He wasn’t tested much during competitive periods but looked ready for action. He also caught punts during special-teams periods, as he did during the offseason.
An opportunity for McCoy to start, if healthy, looks available, as the Raiders rotated corners alongside Eric Stokes during the session. Darien Porter, Richardson, and fellow rookie Hezekiah Masses were the others to work with the first team. While McCoy isn’t there yet, Kubiak said they’re cognizant of easing him back in to play; there’s a chance he joins the competition soon.
