KIRK COUSINS FRUSTRATED BY ARM CONTACT IN RAIDERS PRACTICE

Kirk Cousins, quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders, expressed frustration after a practice session on Tuesday involving a joint workout with the Houston Texans. Cousins said that Texans defenders made contact with his elbow whilst closing in on him in the pocket. He stated that the incident prompted a response from him, and that he had previously had a similar exchange with Raiders teammate Maxx Crosby earlier in the summer.

Cousins cited concerns about arm injuries sustained in contact with opposing players. He noted that he carried scars from hits in real games where helmets had struck his armpits, resulting in seasonal injuries. The quarterback was wearing a red jersey during the practice session, a designation that typically signals to other players that contact with the quarterback should not occur. Cousins questioned the effectiveness of this rule, stating that defenders continued to make contact despite the jersey.

Cousins said he had asked both Crosby and the Texans defenders to avoid contact with his arm during play. He expressed scepticism about the enforcement of the no-contact protocol, asking why the red jersey exists if defenders continue to make contact with him regardless. The Raiders are managing the quarterback rotation as they determine when Cousins will hand over the position to first overall draft pick Fernando Mendoza.