When Fernando Mendoza could start for Raiders: Three dates to circle

The excitement just keeps building for the Las Vegas Raiders now that the team has officially brought rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza and veteran Kirk Cousins into the fold.

For a team that was 3-14 last season, there's really an unprecedented amount of positive hype right now surrounding the Raiders. People are pumped to see both Cousins and Mendoza take the field, and then, of course, there's the debate about which quarterback will see more playing time this season.

There are positives to having either of these signal-callers on the field for most of the season. Cousins brings the veteran experience and knowledge that comes from being a quarterback in the NFL for more than a decade, while Mendoza offer the energy and freshness that comes with being a rookie.

Generally, it's expected that Cousins will start early in the season. But when will Mendoza take over? Here are three dates to circle that could make for his NFL debut.

Three dates Fernando Mendoza could start for Las Vegas Raiders

Now that the 2026 NFL schedule is out, we know exactly when, where and who Vegas will be playing for the 2026-27 season.

One option for Mendoza is starting in Week 8, which falls on Nov. 1, at New York against the Jets. While it may be rough to have his first game on the road, if the Jets are anything like they were last season, this will make for an easier challenge for Mendoza in his first game. The Jets were 3-14 last season, just like the Raiders.

As for another option, the Raiders have a late bye in Week 13. By Week 12, Cousins is going to be tired. So, the Raiders' Week 12 game on Nov. 29 against the Cleveland Browns on the road could make for a solid debut game, especially if Cleveland is in quarterback turmoil, as it has been for a while.

Finally, this is late in the season, but Mendoza could debut at home in Week 16 on Dec. 27 against the Tennessee Titans. This is another case where he'd be facing an easier team, in theory. Plus, it's a home game.

No matter when Mendoza debuts on the field, it will be a big moment in the NFL. Even those who aren't Raiders fans have been following the quarterback's story from the Indiana Hoosiers to now, so all eyes will be on this debut.