Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak has not definitively named the team's starting quarterback, and the competition for the backup role is also unresolved, with veteran Aidan O'Connell appearing to gain an edge over rookie Fernando Mendoza.
Kubiak stated on Friday that the team has three quarterbacks ready to play and that decisions about who will be the No. 1 and No. 2 options are ongoing discussions. While Mendoza was initially expected to be the primary backup to veteran Kirk Cousins, his preseason performance has raised questions.
Mendoza's preseason statistics show him completing 25 of 45 passes for 240 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions. He has also been sacked four times. His interceptions include one returned for a touchdown against the Houston Texans and another during a loss to the San Francisco 49ers.
In contrast, O'Connell has completed 22 of 46 passes for 283 yards and one touchdown during the preseason without turning the ball over. He has also been sacked only once, suggesting a greater level of stability.
"We’ve got three guys that are ready to play," Kubiak told Michael David Smith of NBC Sports. "It’s going to be some hard decisions on who’s 1, who’s 2. That’s not a decision we have to make today, but those are discussions that are ongoing."
Despite the NFL's trend of highly touted rookies making immediate impacts, Kubiak appears to be taking a measured approach with Mendoza, not rushing him into a prominent role. O'Connell, having prior NFL starting experience, has demonstrated a steadier presence during the preseason, which may be influencing the coaching staff's evaluations.