Rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza expressed gratitude for his NFL preseason debut, where he posted a 100.3 quarterback rating and a touchdown pass without turnovers in nearly three quarters of play. "First, I want to thank God and my teammates and coaches for allowing me the opportunity," Mendoza told reporters. "Today was an invigorating experience where there's not many moments where you feel fully alive, and on the field is when you feel fully alive, especially in the NFL atmosphere."
Coach Klint Kubiak acknowledged Mendoza's performance, stating, "As far as getting in and out of the huddle and commanding the group and getting the play-calls down, I saw the same guy we've seen in practice. I saw an ascending player."
Despite the impressive outing, Kubiak confirmed that veteran Kirk Cousins will remain the team's starting quarterback. "Kirk has been getting the reps with the ones," Kubiak said. "I think he's had a solid training camp and it's his job to lose."
Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft, acknowledged the need for further development. "Overall, I felt that the group that I was in with, you know, they blocked fantastic, they ran great routes, the run game was good," Mendoza said. "Unfortunately, I let my teammates down today. But it's a growing experience. I feel like we're all growing. And it showed me that I need to grow a lot."
During his time with the Raiders, minority owner Tom Brady spoke to the team before the game. A comparison was drawn between Mendoza's debut and Tom Brady's first NFL action in 2000. In his initial appearance, Brady completed 3 of 4 passes for 28 yards in 17 snaps against San Francisco 49ers backups. Mendoza, in contrast, completed more passes for a higher yardage total and added a touchdown. Mendoza, described as a self-described "nerd" who prefers studying the playbook to nightlife, downplayed any personal accomplishment. He noted that Brady had spoken to the team the night before, and as a former UC Berkeley backup, he never imagined playing for an NFL legacy franchise. The Raiders have experienced significant turmoil in recent seasons, including the resignation of Jon Gruden over an email scandal, the drunk driving incident involving Henry Ruggs III, and multiple coaching changes. The acquisition of Mendoza and the stable approach under rookie coach Kubiak signal a potential shift for the franchise.