Raiders' Klint Kubiak sends clear message to Kirk Cousins after Fernando Mendoza makes debut

For months, reports have indicated that first-year Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak will eventually name veteran Kirk Cousins the team's Week 1 starting quarterback over rookie Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft. 

It appears Mendoza didn't do enough in the Raiders' 27-14 preseason loss to the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday night to drastically alter the Raiders' plan for his overall development. 

Raiders' starting job is Kirk Cousins' "to lose"

"Kirk’s been getting the reps with the ones," Kubiak said after the game about the Raiders' practices, per Michael David Smith of Pro Football Talk. "I think he’s had a solid training camp and it’s his job to lose." 

Kubiak's update was hardly a surprise, as the Raiders listed Mendoza as the team's QB2 behind Cousins ahead of the Cardinals game. Cousins then got the start against Arizona, and he completed five of his six passes for 50 yards and a touchdown. 

Meanwhile, Mendoza went 10-of-16 for 97 yards and a score in a solid debut. That said, he was also responsible for several expected "rookie moments" during the evening. 

"He led a good scoring drive," Kubiak said about Mendoza's outing. "As far as getting in and out of the huddle, commanding the group, getting the play calls down, I saw the same guy I see in practice. I saw an ascending player who’s got to keep getting better." 

Fernando Mendoza makes big admissions about NFL debut

Per Ryan McFadden of ESPN, Mendoza admitted following Thursday's contest that the experience against the Cardinals showed him that he needs "to grow a lot." He also said that he would be watching game film because he had "nothing else to do" through the early morning hours. 

Interestingly, Mendoza added that he was caught a bit off guard by the speed of the defenders at the highest level. Humorously, he also commented on having to drive to Allegiant Stadium.

"That was the first time I've ever done that because usually college, you just hop on the bus," Mendoza explained. "It's very regimented, so there's a lot more autonomy that you get as an NFL player, a lot more flexibility, and I think that's going to be beneficial in the future."

Mendoza will next get an opportunity to impress when the Raiders play at the Houston Texans on Aug. 20.