About Fernando Mendoza Not Starting All Season

A recent report by Ian Rapoport of NFL Media raised some eyebrows about the Las Vegas Raiders’ plan for rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza this season.

According to Rapoport, the team’s ideal plan for the No. 1 overall draft pick is to keep him on the shelf for his entire rookie season. Rapoport said the team would like to see Cousins, who was signed this offseason and who will turn 38 next month, play for the entire season.

The Raiders have yet to publicly say what their plan is other than saying they do, indeed, have a quarterback plan. Both Las Vegas general manager John Spytek and head coach Klint Kubiak have said they would like to see rookie quarterbacks, in general, sit and learn in an ideal world. But an exact timeline for Mendoza hasn’t been announced.

So, Rapoport’s report is interesting to suggest that Raiders would rather not insert Mendoza in the lineup att all in 2026.

However, Rapoport made it clear there are no absolutes in this plan and he left plenty of outs for the plan to change. His point is if Cousins, who played under Kubiak for three successful seasons in Minnesota, plays well and stays healthy, there will be no reason to move away from him.

Rapoport also mentioned Mendoza can simply steal the job if he plays well in the training camp and the preseason.

So, in reality, this is simply a fluid situation. could Cousins play the entire year? Yes. Could Mendnza win the job by Week 1? Yes.

It’s as simple and as complicated, at the same time, as that.