The Las Vegas Raiders invested the No. 1 overall pick in Fernando Mendoza, but the Heisman Trophy winner is still waiting for his chance to lead the offense. Through six games, veteran Kirk Cousins has been the guy under center, and head coach Klint Kubiak isn't ready to hand the keys to the rookie just yet.
Cousins has been solid, completing 63.4% of his passes for 1,582 yards, with 14 touchdowns and five interceptions. Mendoza, meanwhile, has only seen limited action — most notably in Week 5 against the Patriots, where he completed 6 of 8 passes for 48 yards. It's not much, but it's enough to show flashes of why he was the top pick.
This Sunday, the Raiders face the Los Angeles Chargers, and Mendoza will again be watching from the sidelines. But that doesn't mean his efforts have gone unnoticed. Kubiak had nothing but praise for the rookie this week, saying, "I'm very pleased with where he's at, and none of us really know until he goes and plays. But he's doing everything that we're asking him to do. Really, he's doing more than asked, and that's just his character."
Kubiak elaborated on Mendoza's extra effort, noting that the rookie is always putting in the work when no one else is around. "I think it's as simple as me just walking down the hall here to go get in the steam room when everybody's gone, and he's out here on the field by himself," the coach said. That kind of dedication is exactly what you want from a franchise quarterback in waiting.
At 3-3, the Raiders aren't feeling any pressure to make a change under center. The schedule, however, could force their hand. With upcoming games against the Rams, Jets, and 49ers, a rough stretch could easily turn that record sour. If the Raiders stumble over the next month, the call to give Mendoza the starting job could come sooner rather than later — perhaps even before their bye week in December.
The fan base is already itching to see Mendoza run the first-team offense. The hype is real, and it's only growing with every quiet practice session and every extra rep. The Raiders' decision-makers might be patient, but the chorus for Mendoza is getting louder with each passing week.
For now, the Raiders are sticking with Cousins, and that's a reasonable call given his production. But the clock is ticking. If the wins keep coming, Mendoza can wait. If not, the rookie might just get his chance to prove that he's more than ready to take the reins.
