Las Vegas Raiders coach Klint Kubiak has continued to withhold the identity of the team's starting quarterback for their season opener against the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 13. Kubiak's decision to not name a starter, despite having just over a week until the regular season begins, leaves both veteran Kirk Cousins and rookie Fernando Mendoza in a state of uncertainty.
"You know, we got another week playing," Kubiak told reporters Friday morning. "I don't want anyone to be comfortable in their job. It should always be that way from all positions. So, you know, we'll just keep going forward."
This stance represents a shift from remarks made just last week, when Kubiak indicated that the starting job was Cousins' to lose. "I think he's had a solid training camp and it's his job to lose," Kubiak had said of Cousins.
The Raiders' quarterback situation became a focal point during their recent preseason game. Mendoza started the game against the Houston Texans, later giving way to third-stringer Aidan O'Connell. Cousins did not play in the game.
Both quarterbacks have experienced notable moments during the preseason. Kubiak acknowledged that Cousins "did some good things" in a joint practice against the Texans earlier in the week, though he also had a pass intercepted for a touchdown. Mendoza, the Raiders' No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 draft, also threw a pick-six in Thursday's preseason contest.
"It was not a good throw," Mendoza said of his interception. He added that his NFL debut has underscored the steep learning curve in professional football. "I came away with that there's a lot of more learning to do. And that, although I maybe had a lot of success at another level, that this level's a whole step further, and that the margins are so small and that, you know, one tight mistake can lead to catastrophe."
Mendoza is widely expected to be the Raiders' long-term starter, but the team signed Cousins to provide veteran leadership and bridge the gap during the rookie's development. Minority owner Tom Brady has previously spoken about the benefits of a rookie quarterback learning from an experienced veteran, a path he himself experienced.
Raiders minority owner Tom Brady yells encouragement to players during the first half of a Raiders training camp mock game at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas on Aug. 2, 2025. (L.E. Baskow/Las Vegas Review-Journal)