Kirk Cousins throws TD on his only drive before Fernando Mendoza replaces him
Kirk Cousins will start the season opener for the Raiders as No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza begins his career on the bench.
Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak has confirmed that rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza will make his preseason debut on Thursday night. During a Tuesday press conference, Kubiak stated that the Las Vegas starters will play against the Cardinals, making Kirk Cousins the first quarterback to take the field. However, Mendoza will get "plenty of experience" during the game, with Kubiak expressing his anticipation to see him on the field with his teammates.
The coach didn't specify the number of snaps Mendoza would receive, but there is a possibility he could play with the first-team offensive line. Kubiak praised Mendoza's progress throughout training camp, noting his impressive preparation. He emphasized that Mendoza has learned to adjust his performance on the field, as theory doesn't always translate from practice to live game scenarios.
With the Raiders facing the Cardinals at 8:00 p.m. ET on Thursday, Kubiak believes this will be an opportunity for Mendoza to gain valuable experience against a live pass rush.
Written by urgent.news from Yahoo Sports's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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