Raiders’ Fernando Mendoza shares ‘adversity’ insight following preseason debut

Fernando Mendoza, the Las Vegas Raiders' star quarterback, made his preseason debut against the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday night. Mendoza, who was the top overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft following an impressive college career at Indiana, was valued highly by the Raiders for his potential. In his first preseason game, Mendoza completed 10 of 16 passes for 97 yards and a touchdown, showing his talent during four drives.

However, Mendoza recognized there is still ample room for growth. "It showed me that I need to grow a lot," he said, as reported by ESPN. Mendoza's performance improved significantly on his second drive, where he threw a crucial 19-yard completion to rookie wide receiver Malik Benson, tying the score at 14 with 3:16 left in the second quarter.

Mendoza credited his teammates for helping him stay calm after an anxious start to his first drive, which resulted in two incompletions. As the Raiders prepare for their regular season opener against the Miami Dolphins on September 13, Mendoza looks forward to his continued development and the opportunity to prove himself as the team's long-term quarterback.