Mendoza set to start for Raiders against Seahawks after Cousins trade

Fernando Mendoza will take the field as the Las Vegas Raiders' starting quarterback for the first time on Sunday, facing the Seattle Seahawks. The rookie, the No. 1 overall pick in the April NFL Draft, said the opportunity is "once-in-a-lifetime" and that mentorship from veteran Kirk Cousins has helped him gain confidence and earn the trust of teammates and coach Klint Kubiak.

"I'm a lot more confident as a quarterback and feel more developed, whether it's [playing] under center, connecting with teammates, understanding an NFL scheme," Mendoza said.

Raiders tight end Brock Bowers expressed confidence in the young quarterback, noting that the team believes in him despite occasional mistakes. Wide receiver Tre Tucker praised Mendoza's consistency in practice, saying the team has seen his progress all season and looks forward to his performance on Sunday.

The start comes after Cousins was traded to the Minnesota Vikings before the deadline, a move Mendoza said he did not anticipate. He added that the trade reflects the business nature of the league and expressed interest in Cousins' future.

Mendoza, who won the Heisman Trophy last season and led Indiana to an undefeated national championship, was initially brought to the Raiders as a developmental prospect, with Cousins serving as a bridge quarterback. Cousins helped the Raiders improve their win total last season, throwing for 2,340 yards, 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions in nine starts.