Fernando Mendoza Vows Growth After 97-Yard Raiders Debut as No. 1 Pick Opens NFL Career
Updated
Updated · Yahoo Sports · Aug 14
Fernando Mendoza Vows Growth After 97-Yard Raiders Debut as No. 1 Pick Opens NFL Career
3 articles · Updated · Yahoo Sports · Aug 14
Summary
10-of-16 passing for 97 yards and a touchdown gave Fernando Mendoza a solid statistical debut, but the Raiders rookie said afterward he "need[s] to grow a lot" and planned to study the film immediately.
An anxious first series ended with two incompletions and a punt, before teammates settled him down and he rebounded on his second drive with a 19-yard strike to Malik Benson.
Mike Washington Jr.'s 53-yard run then set up Mendoza's 6-yard touchdown pass to Jack Bech, tying the game 14-14 with 3:16 left in the second quarter.
Las Vegas still lost 27-14 after Arizona built a 21-14 halftime lead and held the Raiders scoreless in the second half.
The No. 1 overall pick is sharing preseason quarterback work with Kirk Cousins as the Raiders head into remaining tuneups against Houston on Aug. 20 and San Francisco on Aug. 27.