Veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins is embracing his role as the Las Vegas Raiders' starter, emphasizing a day-by-day approach to solidify his position as training camp progresses. Head coach Klint Kubiak named Cousins the starter prior to camp, a decision supported by his leading the first-team offense during organized team activities and minicamp.
Kubiak has expressed expectations for rookies Fernando Mendoza and Aidan O'Connell to challenge Cousins for the starting job. He noted that competition among the quarterbacks, where each player strives to outperform the others, is essential for development. "Any time they complete a ball better than (Cousins) does or get it out faster than he does, then he should get pissed and want to do it better," Kubiak said. "That’s the goal, and I think they’ve done that in these first three practices."
Cousins, a four-time Pro Bowler entering his 15th season, was acquired by the Raiders to provide stability as the team aims for contention. The team has not won a playoff game in over two decades. Mendoza, the first overall draft pick, led Indiana to a national championship and won the Heisman Trophy. The Raiders hope he will eventually lead the franchise back to success.
Mendoza is adapting to NFL-level play, including taking snaps under center and refining his footwork. After initial struggles during OTAs and minicamp, his performance in training camp has shown significant improvement, including completing tight-window passes. "I love the mindset that he has," Kubiak said of Mendoza. "That’s what all of our players should have. Nobody has arrived, especially a rookie quarterback."
Mendoza acknowledged the learning curve, noting that the margins for error in the NFL are considerably smaller than in college. "When it was rookie minicamp and OTAs, it happens very quick. However, now in training camp, I truly feel like a member of the team rather than a new rookie on the scene," he said. He has demonstrated leadership, recently directing wide receiver Phillip Dorsett II during a drill. Mendoza, however, deflected praise, emphasizing the collaborative effort within the offense. "There’s a lot of times that the offensive line would correct me. The running backs, tight ends, receivers, they would help put me in place. It’s that relationship that we have, that dynamic relationship where we can hold each other accountable."
Fellow players have observed Mendoza's work ethic. "Every day, he’s trying to get better," said wide receiver Tre Tucker. "I’m watching him in meetings and he’s listening, taking the corrections. Those are the type of things that you want to see from a guy like him, and he has a very bright future."