Raiders’ Kirk Cousins spins tough day against Texans pass rush into positive

Kirk Cousins had a rough day against one of the league’s most feared pass rushes, but he found a way to see the bright side of it. The Raiders quarterback got extensive work during Tuesday’s joint practice with the Houston Texans, a session that included an interception returned for a touchdown against a Houston defense that finished among the NFL’s best last season.

Cousins reflected on the challenge afterward.

“I do think that edge, like you said, we kind of knew that this would be a good test for us,” he told reporters afterward. “Nobody really can just drop back and take seven-step drops, play after play after play, against any rush in the NFL, let alone these guys. We asked a lot of them today, and it’ll be really good film to go watch.”

Kirk Cousins on the #Raiders offensive line after facing the Texans pass rush: pic.twitter.com/Qc3qgbAIRS

— Levi Edwards (@theleviedwards) August 18, 2026

The 38-year-old also touched on the broader value of a difficult day like this one.

“We can also talk about how can we help them, how can I help them, because it’s a tall task,” Cousins said.

Houston presented arguably the toughest test the Raiders’ offensive line has faced all preseason. The Texans led the NFL in total defense last season and racked up 47 sacks, powered by an edge duo in Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson Jr. that combined for 27 sacks a year ago, along with standout rookie defensive tackle Kayden McDonald. It marked a significant step up in competition for a Las Vegas front that had performed well in its preseason opener but had not yet faced a pass rush of this caliber.

Cousins summed up the difficulty simply afterward.

“It was a good challenge,” Cousins said. “You feel their rush. They do a good job pursuing and playing fast.”

The joint session doubled as a homecoming of sorts for Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans, who reunited with Raiders coaches Gary Kubiak and Klint Kubiak. Despite the physical nature of the practice, which included a brief scuffle involving Raiders pass rusher Maxx Crosby, both coaching staffs praised how the two teams handled the intensity. The Raiders and Texans meet again Thursday in their second preseason game, giving both sides a chance to build on Tuesday’s tough but valuable rep count.

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