Las Vegas Raiders rookie Fernando Mendoza made his much-anticipated NFL preseason debut Thursday night, throwing a touchdown in a 27-14 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. Veteran Kirk Cousins started the game and led a touchdown drive of his own before Mendoza entered late in the first quarter. The Heisman Trophy winner and No. 1 pick out of Indiana, Mendoza wasted no time in showing Raiders fans what he can do. He was efficient and made the plays that were available, completing 10 of his 16 passes for 97 yards. Mendoza did take an ill-advised sack in his only glaring rookie moment of the night. Despite the show Mendoza put on, first-year coach Klint Kubiak remains focused on Cousins starting when the regular season rolls along. “Kirk’s been getting the reps with the ones," Kubiak said, per Pro Football Talk. "I think he’s had a solid training camp and it’s his job to lose." Tough news for Mendoza and the Hoosiers fans who'll now be pulling for the Raiders. Kubiak still admitted he liked what he saw from the young QB, particularly procedurally, describing Mendoza as a "ascending player who's got to keep getting better."
No. 1 Pick Fernando Mendoza Makes His Preseason Raiders Debut 🔥 10/16, 97 PYDS, 1 PTD, 0 INT pic.twitter.com/OuUwM3mY00 — Football Performances (@NFLPerformances) August 14, 2026 Mendoza recently got a practice with the starters after Cousins was held out following an on-field altercation with defensive end Maxx Crosby, giving him valuable reps for when he eventually takes the job. That likely won't be by Week 1, when the Raiders host the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 13. This article originally appeared on For The Win: Are Raiders still starting Kirk Cousins after Fernando Mendoza's impressive NFL debut?