Raiders QB Kirk Cousins Makes His Feelings on Fernando Mendoza Crystal Clear
Fernando Mendoza got first-team reps against the Texans' starters, and Kirk Cousins had a strong message for the Raiders' rookie.
The Las Vegas Raiders have officially designated Kirk Cousins as the starting quarterback for the upcoming season. However, rookie Fernando Mendoza had an opportunity to showcase his skills on Tuesday during a joint practice with the Houston Texans. Coach Gary Kubiak explained that he wanted to evaluate Mendoza against Houston's formidable defense.
Kubiak stated that they had planned to give Mendoza this experience all along, and he believed Mendoza performed well. Cousins echoed Kubiak's sentiment, praising Mendoza's preparation and quick understanding of the system. Despite being in line to start Week 1, Kubiak emphasized that Mendoza would receive ample playing time during the Raiders' final two preseason games.
This practice was especially valuable as it allowed Mendoza to face the Texans' first-team defense in a more competitive setting than regular preseason games. Mendoza already demonstrated his talent in his NFL debut against the Arizona Cardinals, completing passes and contributing to the team's victory. With two more preseason games against the Texans and the San Francisco 49ers, Mendoza will face tough competition and gain valuable experience before the regular season begins.
The starting quarterback position remains with Cousins for now, but the Raiders are providing Mendoza with meaningful opportunities to build his NFL resume.
Written by urgent.news from Newsweek's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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