Insider predicts Fernando Mendoza's first start with the Raiders

Even though the Las Vegas Raiders should be one of the teams to watch in 2026, they're one of just five teams without a primetime game this season.

That might change down the stretch with some games being flexed. For now, however, it seems that the league doesn't think No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza will play much — if at all — in his rookie season.

The Raiders signed Kirk Cousins, presumably to take the reins of the offense early in the season.

Considering that, Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk thinks we may not see Mendoza take the field until Week 12.

Fernando Mendoza might debut in Week 12 vs. the Browns

"If the Raiders wait until later in the season to start Mendoza, they could do it in Week 12 against the Browns, which is followed by a bye week. The Raiders then close with the Chargers, Broncos, Titans, Cardinals and Chiefs," Florio argued. 

This makes sense to a degree. If the Raiders' season is already in shambles with Cousins and Mendoza is up to speed with the new offense, they might give him a chance to prove what he's got.

If they're rolling, on the other hand, it's hard to believe a franchise that has struggled to contend for so long will turn to its rookie quarterback.

Mendoza and the Raiders are in no rush. He barely took snaps under center in college, and he'll have to make some crucial adjustments to get a hang of the pro-style game.

At the end of the day, Mendoza has more than a decade to play in the league if everything goes well, and we've seen so many promising quarterbacks be ruined after being thrown into the fire when they weren't ready.

This is a marathon, not a sprint, and Mendoza will only play when it's right for him.