Kirk Cousins remains the Las Vegas Raiders' starting quarterback, according to head coach Klint Kubiak, despite a notable performance by rookie Fernando Mendoza in his NFL preseason debut. Mendoza, the Raiders' No. 1 draft pick, played in the team's 27-14 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. The game was observed by Raiders minority owner Tom Brady.
Cousins, who was signed to a five-year, $172 million contract with a guaranteed $20 million for the first year, began the game against the Cardinals. He completed 5 of 6 passes for 50 yards and a touchdown before Mendoza entered the game. Mendoza finished his outing 10-for-16 passing, accumulating 97 yards and throwing his first career touchdown pass to fellow rookie Jack Bech.
Kubiak indicated that Cousins entered training camp as the starting quarterback and that status has not changed. "Kirk's been getting the reps with the ones. I think he's had a solid training camp and it's his job to lose," Kubiak stated after the game. He added that Mendoza "led a good scoring drive" and that the rookie is an "ascending player who's got to keep getting better."
Mendoza, 22, expressed a critical self-assessment of his performance. "Unfortunately, I let my teammates down today," Mendoza said. "But it's a growing experience. I feel like we're all growing and it helped me show that I need to grow a lot."
Cousins offered praise for Mendoza's debut, stating, "He did a great job. He moved the football, he scored points, gave us a chance to score points and operated well."
Brady, who was instrumental in the Raiders' decision to select Mendoza with the No. 1 pick, previously lauded the young quarterback's leadership. In comments made last month, Mendoza shared that Brady has advised him to "do everything possible to be successful and, and to best serve your teammates and not let your teammates down."