Raiders rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza shows promise in preseason loss to Cardinals

Fernando Mendoza made his preseason debut for the Las Vegas Raiders on Thursday night, completing 10 of 16 passes for 97 yards and a touchdown in a 27-14 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. The 6-foot-5 rookie displayed poise in the pocket, delivering accurate throws on four drives and avoiding pre-snap mistakes.

"I thought he led a good scoring drive as far as getting in and out of the huddle and commanding the group and getting the play calls down," Raiders coach Klint Kubiak said, adding that he saw the same qualities in practice and described Mendoza as an "ascending player."

Mendoza also acknowledged areas for improvement, noting missed reads and avoidable sacks. He said, "Unfortunately, I let my teammates down today, but it’s a growing experience."

The rookie’s highlights included a tight-window touchdown pass to Jack Bech and a 19-yard strike to Malik Benson on a play-action fake. While the performance did not threaten starter Kirk Cousins’ Week 1 role, coaches noted Mendoza’s potential and his ability to analyze defenses before the snap.