Fernando Mendoza Reveals “Ruthless” Kirk Cousins Trait He Wants to Replicate After Rocky Show
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Fernando Mendoza’s final preseason tape isn’t one he’ll want on his highlight reel. The Las Vegas Raiders closed the preseason with an 18-12 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday, and the rookie quarterback’s final audition came with rough edges.
But the No. 1 2026 NFL draft pick used the moment to point at exactly what he needs to fix, and who’s showing him how.
Fernando Mendoza wants to improve his shaky play
Kirk Cousins started the game and did his job. He went 8-of-11 for 51 yards over two drives, and both ended in Matt Gay field goals. Mendoza took over next and looked solid until he threw an interception and took two sacks across five drives. He finished 7-of-14 for 57 yards.
His second pass of the night went too high on a play-action play. It bounced right off receiver Jalen Nailor’s hands and into linebacker Tatum Bethune’s arms for an interception.
Mendoza has treated the growing pains as part of the process. After getting sacked twice and pressured six times against the 49ers, he called facing that kind of pass rush “a good learning experience” because “pressure makes diamonds.”
He has spent the offseason working behind the veteran to improve. After the game, Mendoza said Cousins plays “ruthlessly efficient,” and the rookie wants to match how Cousins turns possessions into points instead of stalling out, according to Sam Warren of The Athletic.
However, first-year coach Klint Kubiak defended his rookie a bit, saying Nailor should have caught the ball. Still, Mendoza’s total preseason numbers show his struggles. He finished 25-of-45 for 240 yards, one touchdown, two interceptions, and a 54.1% completion rate.
“I still don’t think we need to name anybody,” he said after the finale, adding that the staff still has “a lot to talk about at a lot of positions.” It’s the third straight week he’s dodged the question, though the usage pattern points toward Cousins under center in the season opener against Miami on Sept. 13.
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