Fernando Mendoza

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• Raiders' Fernando Mendoza: Opening season as QB2

  10D ago • By RotoWire

  With coach Klint Kubiak naming Kirk Cousins the Raiders' starting quarterback Wednesday, Mendoza will open the season as the backup, Sam Warren of The Athletic reports. Mendoza was in the competition all offseason, but it was going to take some otherworldly play to knock Cousins out of the top spot on the depth chart. While Cousins completed 13 of 17 passes for 101 yards and one touchdown across 30 preseason snaps, Mendoza struggled some, completing just 26 of 46 passes for 250 yards, one touchdown and a pair of interceptions during exhibition action. Cousins is likely to have a decently long leash to begin the season, but Mendoza remains a good bet to make starts as a rookie.

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• Raiders' Fernando Mendoza: Still in QB competition

  15D ago • By RotoWire

  Mendoza remains in the mix for the Raiders' starting quarterback job along with veteran Kirk Cousins, Vinny Bonsignore of the California Post reports. The first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, Mendoza opened training camp as the No. 2 QB and has remained there through the preseason, but he has earned some reps with the first-team offense along the way in both practices and exhibitions. He wrapped up his three preseason contests having completed 25 of 45 passes for 240 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions. Until coach Klint Kubiak makes a decision, ther potential exists for Mendoza to be under center for Las Vegas in Week 1 versus the Dolphins

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• Raiders' Fernando Mendoza: Kubiak declines to name Week 1 starter

  22D ago • By RotoWire

  Raiders coach Klint Kubiak indicated Thursday that he is not yet ready to name a starting quarterback (between Kirk Cousins and Mendoza) ahead of Week 1, Ryan McFadden of ESPN reports. On that subject, Kubiak noted "we got another week. I don't want anyone to be comfortable in their job...it should always be that way for all positions. So, let's keep going." To this point, the signs have been pointing to Cousins opening the regular season as the starter, and he was among his team's key players who watched Thursday's preseason game against the Texans from the sidelines. Meanwhile, Mendoza played the entire first half of the contest, completing eight of 15 passes for 86 yards and an interception on five drives. It remains to be seen when Kubiak will announce the Raiders' starting signal-caller, but given where Mendoza was drafted, it's assumed that the Indiana product will rise to the top of the Raiders' depth chart eventually, though that ascent seems likely to follow a stint as Cousins' understudy.

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• Raiders' Fernando Mendoza: In line to see first-half action Thursday

  23D ago • By RotoWire

  Mendoza is expected to play the first half of Thursday's preseason game against the Texans, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports. Mendoza will start Thursday and play roughly half the game, after which point Aidan O'Connell is scheduled to come in. This will be Mendoza's first start at the professional level, as Kirk Cousins started the preseason opener against Arizona before Mendoza threw for 97 yards and a touchdown in relief. Cousins remains the favorite to begin the regular season as the starter over the rookie first overall pick.

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• Raiders' Fernando Mendoza: Should get plenty of reps

  08/11/2026 • By RotoWire

  Raiders coach Klint Kubiak said Tuesday that Mendoza will play in Thursday's preseason opener against Arizona and may even get a few snaps with the starting offensive line, Ryan McFadden of ESPN.com reports. It sounds like Kirk Cousins will make the start, but Mendoza could enter the game fairly early on, and he's expected to play a lot this preseason (if not necessarily Thursday night). Kubiak hasn't announced his Week 1 starter, but Cousins has been treated as the starter throughout training camp.

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