The Las Vegas Raiders are hitting the practice field with a clear pecking order under center—at least for now. When training camp kicks off Wednesday, veteran Kirk Cousins will take the first-team snaps, not rookie sensation Fernando Mendoza.
Head coach Klint Kubiak didn't mince words Tuesday, telling reporters, “When we go out to practice tomorrow, Kirk Cousins is the starting quarterback. He’s the guy, and he deserves it because he’s played really good football.” The decision signals a deliberate approach to grooming Mendoza, whom the Raiders selected with the No. 1 overall pick after a standout season at Indiana.
Mendoza was electric last fall, completing 72% of his passes for 3,535 yards, 41 touchdowns, and just six interceptions. That production made him the obvious choice for a franchise desperate for a long-term answer at quarterback. But Kubiak has consistently emphasized patience, saying, “Ideally, you don’t want him to start from day one. You’d love him to be able to learn behind somebody.”
The coach acknowledged that the perfect scenario isn't always possible, but for now, the Raiders are sticking to their blueprint. “Sometimes they have to play from day one and it’s our job as coaches to get them ready to go. I think it does help the player if they can sit behind a mature adult and watch how they run the show,” Kubiak added.
Still, the decision has sparked debate about a potential quarterback controversy. Pro Football Talk’s Mike Florio recently warned that if Mendoza clearly outplays Cousins in camp, the locker room could grow restless. “What’s Maxx Crosby going to say about that? What’s Brock Bowers going to say? What’s any veteran player going to say?” Florio asked. “We’ve got a guy who we can all tell at every practice is better than Kirk Cousins as of right now, but you’ve got this plan that you’re going to groom Fernando Mendoza by having him not play, by deliberately choosing the lesser guy to be the quarterback. Good luck with that one, Klint Kubiak.”
This situation mirrors other recent training camp storylines, like the Cowboys insider sidelined for camp start or the Ravens cutting a Heisman runner-up just before camp. Meanwhile, Nick Bosa's clearance for 49ers camp shows how teams handle high-profile players returning from injury.
For now, Cousins has the inside track to be the Week 1 starter. But with Mendoza's talent and the pressure from veterans, the Raiders' quarterback room will be one of the most-watched storylines of the summer.
