Raiders decline to name starting QB; say Mendoza needs more preseason

Raiders decline to name starting QB; say Mendoza needs more preseason

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Raiders decline to name starting QB; say Mendoza needs more preseason
UPI
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, threw one touchdown pass this preseason. File Photo by Peter Foley/UPI

Aug. 28 (UPI) — Coach Klint Kubiak declined to announce his starting quarterback for Week 1 after the Las Vegas Raiders' preseason finale, saying he doesn't "need to name anybody."

Kubiak made the comments after an 18-12 setback to the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday in Las Vegas. Veteran Kirk Cousins completed 8 of 11 passes for 51 yards in the loss.

Rookie Fernando Mendoza completed 7 of 14 passes for 57 yards and an interception. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft completed 25 of 45 passes for 240 yards, a score and two interceptions this preseason. He also was sacked four times.

"He needs another three preseason games," Kubiak said of Mendoza. "All those rookies do, and now that the season's starting, the practice reps get smaller, and that's just life. But, us as coaches, we've got to get them ready to play and keep developing them."

Cousins, who started two of the Raiders' three preseason games, did not play in their second contest. He completed 13 of 17 passes for 101 yards and a score in his two preseason appearances. Each of his two possessions led to field goals.

Kubiak said two weeks ago that the starting quarterback role was his "job to lose," but was more ambiguous in his postgame comments Thursday at Allegiant Stadium.

"I still don't think we need to name anybody," Kubiak said. "We have a lot to talk about at a lot of positions, so we want to watch the film and talk about everything as a staff."

The Raiders listed Cousins as their first-string quarterback on their first unofficial depth chart this preseason, with Mendoza listed as a second-string option. Aidan O'Connell and Jacob Clark are the other quarterbacks on their roster.

Cousins, who signed a two-year, $12.6 million contract in April, completed 61.7% of his throws for 1,721 yards, 10 scores and five interceptions over 10 appearances last season for the Atlanta Falcons. The 14-year veteran threw 298 touchdown passes, with 131 interceptions, through the first 174 appearances of his NFL career.

Cousins, 38, said he will "let the chips fall where they may," when asked Thursday about Kubiak's decision to not publicly name his starting quarterback.

"I think it's every day, just trying to find continued improvement," Cousins said, when asked about his progress this off-season. "You are never a finished product.

"You are always looking for ways to be better."

Mendoza said the "NFL is really tough" and noted "a big jump" in competition between his collegiate and professional career. He also said he would like "unlimited games for development."

"The NFL is a tough business and it's a challenge I look forward to taking head on with my teammates," Mendoza said. "I'm excited for the future. That was my dream as a young kid. Now, I have goals in the future that hopefully, us as a team, we can accomplish to best serve teammates and best serve the Silver and Black."

He said there "has been a lot to learn this preseason." He also called Cousins "ruthlessly efficient."

"There has been a lot to learn this preseason," Mendoza said. "I've learned so much from the veterans and also the other rookies in our locker room. It's been such a fantastic opportunity to grow through the highs and lows of training camp and the preseason. I would say it's been a pleasure and I've grown a lot this preseason.

"If there were three more preseason games, I would play them."

The Raiders will host the Miami Dolphins in their regular season opener Sept. 13 in Las Vegas.

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