Raiders Plan Limited 1st-Team Reps for No. 1 Pick Fernando Mendoza as Cousins Looms

3 articles · Updated · NBC Sports · Jul 22

Las Vegas is expected to give Fernando Mendoza only “sprinkled” first-team snaps in training camp, limiting the No. 1 overall pick’s direct audition against 37-year-old veteran Kirk Cousins.
That approach could help the Raiders manage locker-room politics if they prefer to sit Mendoza early, while still giving him enough work to gauge whether he can push for the starting job.
Any strong showing with the starters could quickly shift sentiment among key veterans such as Maxx Crosby and Brock Bowers toward the quarterback they believe gives them the best chance to win now.
The balancing act is sharper in Las Vegas because, unlike the Chiefs with Patrick Mahomes and Alex Smith, the Raiders have reached the playoffs only twice since 2002.