Las Vegas Raiders rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza is slated to make his preseason debut Thursday night against the Arizona Cardinals, a game where head coach Klint Kubiak expects the No. 1 overall pick of the 2026 NFL Draft to receive substantial playing time. This marks Mendoza's first opportunity to take snaps in a live game situation since being drafted.
Kubiak, who joined the Raiders after a Super Bowl-winning stint as offensive coordinator for the Seattle Seahawks, aims to rebuild the Raiders into playoff contenders. While veteran Kirk Cousins has been named the starting quarterback for the upcoming season, Kubiak emphasized the importance of developing Mendoza.
"Look forward to seeing him out there with his teammates," Kubiak stated, per Raiders.com. "Lot of guys that we need to evaluate but he'll get plenty of reps."
Cousins was signed in free agency, and the initial plan was for him to lead the team. However, Mendoza's performance during the preseason could influence the timeline for his transition into the starting role. The team anticipates starters, including Cousins, will play a few series. Following Cousins, Mendoza and backup Aidan O’Connell are expected to manage the quarterback position.
The coaching staff will be evaluating Mendoza's grasp of the offense and his chemistry with teammates throughout the preseason. Despite the plan to start Cousins, Kubiak has indicated that strong preseason performances from Mendoza could lead to a quicker path to regular-season action.
Mendoza carries high expectations from the fanbase, who will be watching closely to see how quickly he can execute the Raiders' offensive scheme, even in games that do not count towards the team's official record.