| Player: Mendoza, Fernando Position: QB Team: LVR | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| News for Mendoza, Fernando |
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Raiders coach Klint Kubiak said Kirk Cousins is the starter “but if Fernando [Mendoza]'s number is called we have confidence in him.” 2026-10-12 17:00:02 No real surprise after Mendoza’s mop-up appearance in Week 5. It doesn’t appear that he’s taken a major step towards unseating Cousins — who has played well — just yet. But it remains a reasonable bet to happen in the near future. |
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Fernando Mendoza completed 6-of-8 passes for 48 yards in relief of Kirk Cousins in Las Vegas’ Week 5 loss to the Patriots. 2026-10-12 14:00:02 This doesn’t necessarily mean that Mendoza is going to take the reins this week; we expect Cousins to continue starting even if Raiders coach Klint Kubiak didn’t affirmatively get ahead of the situation in Sunday’s post-game. But Mendoza looked reasonable and this will obviously be something that will bubble up eventually. No. 1 overall picks don’t typically stay on benches too long. |
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ESPN’s Ryan McFadden reports Raiders coaches want Fernando Mendoza to improve his timing and anticipation. 2026-08-19 10:00:02 This comes on the heels of Mendoza impressing Vegas coaches in his preseason debut, completing ten of his 16 attempts for 97 yards and a touchdown against Arizona. Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak said after the game that the team’s Week 1 starting gig was still Kirk Cousins’ to lose. It appears Mendoza, with another solid preseason performance, could challenge for that top spot. Kubiak will be watching the rookie’s anticipation closely when Vegas takes on the Texans on Thursday. |
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Raiders HC Klint Kubiak said “all three (QBs) deserve first team reps” this week after Thursday’s preseason game against the Cardinals. 2026-08-14 14:00:03 Kubiak didn’t come right out and say Mendoza could see more first-team reps, but it feels like things are trending that way. His response came after he was asked if Mendoza specifically deserved more first-team reps after a nice outing in his first taste of preseason action, to which Kubiak said the team will put together a plan to ensure all three QBs get first-team reps, which feels somewhat evasive and unrealistic, given that we know career backup Aidan O’Connell isn’t contending for a starting job in camp. Kubiak went on record after Thursday’s game, saying that the battle for QB1 remains Kirk Cousins’ to lose. It wouldn’t be surprising if Mendoza did see more first-team reps in the coming days, but we would be surprised if O’Connell began working in with the first team. That said, it will be worth monitoring Mendoza’s first-team reps going forward, as he could still push Cousins for the starting role before Week 1. |
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Fernando Mendoza completed 10-of-16 passes for 97 yards and a touchdown in Thursday’s preseason opener against the Cardinals. 2026-08-14 00:00:02 Mendoza took over for Kirk Cousins on the Raiders’ second drive. New Raiders coach Klint Kubiak had Mendoza lining up under center and running play action, and the No. 1 overall pick responded by successfully threading the needle on tight window throws to both WR Malik Benson and Jack Bech. He also checked down to fellow rookie Mike Washington when needed. Mendoza’s score was a six-yard strike to Bech, with the second-year wideout turning the grab into a tumbling plunge into the end zone. It was a solid start for a rookie who is evidently going to begin the year on the bench. |