Raiders rookie Fernando Mendoza posts strong preseason debut as coaches keep Kirk Cousins as starter

Fernando Mendoza impressed in his first NFL preseason appearance on Thursday night, completing a touchdown pass and posting a 100.3 quarterback rating over nearly three quarters of play. The rookie first-round pick thanked God, his teammates and coaches after the game, describing the experience as "invigorating" and saying he felt "fully alive" on the field.

Head coach Klint Kubiak praised Mendoza’s performance, noting his command of the huddle and execution of play calls matched what the coaching staff had seen in practice. > "I saw an ascending player," Kubiak said.

Despite the strong showing, Kubiak emphasized that the Raiders will continue with Kirk Cousins as the starting quarterback unless circumstances change. > "Kirk has been getting the reps with the ones. I think he's had a solid training camp and it's his job to lose," the coach added.

Mendoza also reflected on the team's overall effort, acknowledging areas for improvement. > "Overall, I felt that the group that I was in with, you know, they blocked fantastic, they ran great routes, the run game was good. Unfortunately, I let my teammates down today. But it's a growing experience. I feel like we're all growing," he said.

The Raiders' recent history of coaching changes and off-field incidents was mentioned in the broader coverage, but the team’s focus remains on evaluating talent and maintaining stability at the quarterback position.