For the second time in three seasons, a joint practice between the Las Vegas Raiders and Los Angeles Rams witnessed a scuffle. But this time, it involved star edge rusher for the Silver and Black Maxx Crosby defending his actions against Cam Akers.
What Happened Between Cam Akers and Maxx Crosby?
Raiders Insider Tashan Reed of The Athletic captured the moment in verbatim during both teams’ joint practice session in Thousand Oaks on Thursday. As Reed described it, the scuffle occurred with Crosby chasing down Akers and knocking the football loose.
“During 11-on-11, DE Maxx Crosby chased down Cam Akers on a run play and tried to punch the ball loose. The play was basically dead, so Akers took offense and punches were thrown. Both sides got involved and it eventually got broken up,” Reed shared.
During 11-on-11, #Raiders DE Maxx Crosby chased down Cam Akers on a run play and tried to punch the ball loose. The play was basically dead, so Akers took offense and punches were thrown. Both sides got involved and it eventually got broken up.
— Tashan Reed (@tashanreed) August 16, 2023
Reed went on to explain how Akers, now in his fourth season with the Rams and a member of their Super Bowl 56 team, was eventually kicked out of practice after the ordeal.
Crosby got the chance to chime in on what happened between Akers and him.
“I do what I do. He didn’t like it, and he got what he got,” Crosby said via Vic Tafur of The Athletic. “It is what it is.”
Crosby: “I do what I do. He didn’t like it, and he got what he got.” https://t.co/jt9yeicB6w
— Vic Tafur (@VicTafur) August 16, 2023
Rams head coach Sean McVay, meanwhile, said to reporters that he didn’t have a view of what happened between the skirmish between his running back and the Pro Bowler Crosby. But action still took place.
“They got separated. It wasn’t an issue, and we were able to get what we wanted to accomplish,” McVay said.
But he said that when players on his side do fight during joint practices, they’re automatically out. And in this case, Akers never got the chance to finish practice.
Akers Responds to Fight With Crosby
The Rams running back went on to respond to Crosby’s words via his Twitter page. He’s claiming a different take from what occurred between he and the edge rusher.
“Somebody ask him what it was I got? Anybody with eyes saw what happened,” Akers said.
Somebody ask him what it was I got?Anybody with eyes saw what happened 💀😂 https://t.co/jOqmTZ1uyC
— Cam akers (@thereal_cam3) August 16, 2023
Akers additionally reacted to an online photo that surfaced of the fight which saw five Rams restraining Crosby.
“What does a bigger person usually do to a smaller person when they getting punched on? Grab them right? Don’t believe the hype,” Akers said online.
What does a bigger person usually do to a smaller person when they getting punched on? Grab them right? Don’t believe the hype https://t.co/v4HZTAM5dc
— Cam akers (@thereal_cam3) August 17, 2023
However, he sent one last message to his team and fans.
“Gotta be smarter though and I will be for the squad!” Akers concluded.
Gotta be smarter though & I will be for the squad !
— Cam akers (@thereal_cam3) August 17, 2023
Not the First Time Both Teams Got Into a Scuffle
Just two seasons ago and at the same venue, the Rams and Raiders got into a heated exchange that involved fists flying.
Greg Beacham of the Associated Press captured this image in Thousand Oaks in August 2021 of an even larger-scale scuffle.
You’re not gonna believe this but there was a big old brawl at Raiders-Rams practice. Saw some punches. pic.twitter.com/K6ZVI1R5C4
— Greg Beacham (@gregbeacham) August 19, 2021
The massive fight eventually got the Rams and Raiders to call off practice that day. Los Angeles defensive tackle Aaron Donald, though, shared how fights are more common during joint practices than one would think.
“It’s football, man. Honestly, every joint practice I’ve ever been a part of, there’s always a fight,” Donald told reporters. “The way things happened yesterday, how physical it was, I was pretty sure it was going to come back and be a lot of BS.”
As it turns out, it was one year ago there was the sight of the three-time NFL Defensive Player of the Year swinging a helmet during the Rams’ joint practice with the Cincinnati Bengals.
Meanwhile, the Rams and Raiders are set to have one more practice before facing each other in their Saturday, Aug. 19 preseason game at SoFi Stadium.