Fernando Mendoza’s brutal self-criticism should concern the Raiders

Fernando Mendoza is carrying unnecessary weight

Mendoza entered the league as the No. 1 overall selection and the presumed future of the Raiders. That creates enough pressure before adding the belief that every drive must end with points.

His debut was not disastrous. It was not even particularly bad.

Mendoza led four possessions, completed a sharp 19-yard pass between multiple defenders and found Jack Bech for a six-yard touchdown. He missed a potential second touchdown later in the game and occasionally appeared a beat late. 

Welcome to rookie quarterback life. The league does not hand out refunds when the first preseason game gets messy.

Yet Mendoza’s postgame comments sounded like those of a veteran who had thrown away a playoff game.

That response should get the Raiders’ attention. Mendoza’s willingness to criticize himself helped him become the first player selected in the draft, but Las Vegas cannot allow that trait to consume him. Young quarterbacks need enough confidence to survive ugly practices, missed reads and afternoons when the opposing defense appears to own a stolen copy of the playbook.

There will be plenty of those afternoons.

Mendoza does not need to apologize each time one arrives.

The Raiders must protect their long-term investment

Las Vegas signed Kirk Cousins so Mendoza would not have to rescue the franchise immediately. Cousins started Thursday, directed a touchdown drive and remains the expected Week 1 starter. That arrangement gives Mendoza time to learn without every mistake becoming the lead story by breakfast.

At least, that is how it is supposed to work.

If Mendoza judges himself this harshly after a respectable preseason debut, sitting behind Cousins will not automatically remove the pressure. It may simply give the rookie more time to replay every missed opportunity in his head.

Head coach Klint Kubiak offered a much calmer assessment. He praised Mendoza’s command of the huddle and described him as an ascending player. The Raiders should continue reinforcing that message.

Correct the timing. Fix the footwork. Then move along. Nobody needs a candlelight vigil for an incomplete pass in August.

Las Vegas drafted Mendoza because of what he could become, not because it expected a finished quarterback on his first night. His demanding standards are part of the appeal, but there is a line between accepting responsibility and turning every mistake into a referendum on whether he belongs.

Mendoza did not let his teammates down Thursday night. His performance was uneven, promising and extremely normal.

The Raiders’ job is ensuring their future quarterback learns to recognize the difference.