Fernando Mendoza’s first four months with the Las Vegas Raiders began in earnest during his debut preseason contest. The 22‑year‑old quarterback completed 97 yards over five drives, highlighted by a 19‑yard strike to rookie teammate Malik Benson and a touchdown pass that fell just short of a second score after a potential miscue by receiver Deven Thompkins.
After the game against the Arizona Cardinals, Mendoza left the field energized, jogging to the podium and describing the outing as “an invigorating experience.” He declined to keep the game ball, instead handing it to the receiver who caught the touchdown, Jack Bech, and opted not to celebrate with his family, who were in attendance.
When asked how soon he would review the footage, Mendoza reacted sharply, calling the question foolish. “Oh, definitely right after this,” he said. “I have nothing else to really do tonight.”
Raiders officials welcomed the response, viewing it as evidence of why the organization is optimistic about the reigning Heisman Trophy winner and College Football Playoff champion stepping into a leadership role for the long‑struggling franchise.
Mendoza’s early NFL work has been uneven. He threw interceptions in each of the second two preseason games versus the Houston Texans and San Francisco 49ers, and fumbled snaps appeared regularly in practice. Those missteps threatened his chance to unseat veteran free‑agent Kirk Cousins as the starter for the season opener against the Miami Dolphins on September 13.
Minority owner and de facto president of football operations Tom Brady, general manager John Spytek, and head coach Klint Kubiak had previously indicated they preferred not to start a rookie immediately. However, Kubiak noted that after Mendoza’s showing versus the Cardinals, he did not want Cousins or any player to become “comfortable” in their roles.
Cousins will retain the starting job for now, but the Raiders anticipate Mendoza will eventually assume a starting role sometime during his rookie 17‑game schedule.
Kubiak praised Mendoza’s development, saying, “I’m pleased with where he’s at, but we’ve just got to keep pushing him to be better. He’s got to be ready to go from square one. Nobody ever puts you out there when they think you’re 100% ready. Whether you’re a coach or a player, you just have to be ready.”
He added that Mendoza needs to improve under pressure after absorbing a league‑high 14 hits in the preseason, though the quarterback’s on‑field production has not been wholly negative. Mendoza has delivered several impressive throws and demonstrated playmaking ability with his legs, including a scramble for a seven‑yard gain on a broken play against the 49ers.
The Raiders’ biggest source of confidence in Mendoza lies in his work ethic. Offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko described his mindset as “phenomenal.” Mendoza has logged as many hours at the team office in Henderson as anyone on the roster. When his family visited for the Cardinals game, he urged them to explore the Strip, enjoy top restaurants, and see *The Wizard of Oz* at Sphere without him, noting he remained occupied.
Mendoza purchased a local residence using part of his $57 million rookie contract, though it remains largely unfurnished despite his early move-in before training camp. His primary outings are limited to attending Catholic Mass each Sunday.
Malik Benson remarked, “He’s in the building studying hard at night, things like that.”
Raiders fans largely celebrated the club’s acquisition of the No. 1 overall pick at the end of the previous season, though a cautious contingent recalled the franchise’s history of poor draft outcomes. The draft curse traces back to 2007, when the Raiders held the top selection and chose LSU quarterback JaMarcus Russell, widely regarded as one of the biggest busts in NFL history. Russell’s rookie year was marked by minimal facility time, neglected playbook study, and poor nutrition.
Mendoza is the first quarterback the Raiders have drafted in the first round since then—All‑time franchise passing leader Derek Carr was taken in the second round of 2014—and his approach contrasts sharply with Russell’s.
Mendoza attributes part of his grateful attitude to the time he spent buried in the depth chart at the University of California, Berkeley, where he began his college career.
“It’s a huge blessing and I’m truly grateful,” Mendoza said of his journey to the NFL. “Being able to get to this point, that third‑string quarterback at Cal would not have believed where we are now. However, now that I’ve been fortunate to have great teammates, coaches, and this opportunity, I need to take full advantage of the chance and make sure I serve my teammates to the best of my ability.”
Kubiak highlighted Mendoza’s resilience during camp, noting that mistakes in practice often preceded his best throws, usually to Benson.
“There have been highs and lows, but from the first day of training camp to now, I’ve become an exponentially better quarterback, even if it doesn’t always show on paper or the stat sheet,” Mendoza said. “I’m grateful for the highs and lows of camp, and I feel I’m growing a lot as a player because of the great coaches, great teammates, and great support I’m part of.”
The challenge ahead is continuing to develop without as many repetitions. Week‑to‑week preparation will focus on getting Cousins ready as long as he holds the starting position.
Mendoza has carved out extra time for additional work. He phoned third‑round offensive lineman Trey Zuhn to take snaps late at night at the facility while the rookie class was on site for minicamp, and he frequently stays after practice to throw while most teammates have already headed to the locker room.
He will not shy from sacrifice, even if it means limited time with his family, who traveled 2,500 miles to see his first game.
“I know they had a blast,” Mendoza said of his family’s initial extended stay in Las Vegas. “And they look forward to the next time. They say, whether I play or not, they want to come back again.”
How long they will have to wait to see him play remains to be determined, but it may not be lengthy. The Raiders are likely to turn to Mendoza at the first sign of Cousins struggling, and the team is only favored in three games each year.
Opportunities to see Mendoza compete in silver and black will almost certainly not be limited in the coming seasons.
The Raiders are convinced they have the right quarterback to lead them to their first playoff victory since 2003, if not beyond, and they have seen nothing yet that would cause them to fear otherwise.
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Sincity Press Staff
1 hour ago 6 min read
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English (US)·