Raiders Back Kirk Cousins for Week 1 After 5-of-6, 1-TD Preseason Debut

Q: If Kirk Cousins hasn’t lost the Raiders’ Week 1 job, what would Fernando Mendoza need to do to truly force a quarterback change?

Fernando Mendoza would have to do more than flash talent; he would need to clearly outperform Kirk Cousins in the areas Klint Kubiak is emphasizing most: command, consistency, and mistake-free execution. The bar is high because Cousins already has the structural advantage. He has taken the first-team reps throughout camp, knows Kubiak’s system from their Minnesota years, and opened the preseason by leading a sharp 10-play, 68-yard touchdown drive while completing 5 of 6 passes. Kubiak’s public line — that it is “his job to lose” — suggests Mendoza will not win the job on upside alone. For Mendoza to force a real change, he would need a sustained stretch in preseason practices and games where he looks not just promising, but more reliable than Cousins. That means getting the offense in and out of the huddle cleanly, handling protections, operating under center without footwork issues, avoiding sacks like the one Kubiak criticized, and showing the timing-and-anticipation passing Mendoza himself said he still must improve. Coaches have repeatedly framed him as “ascending,” but still learning. Just as important, Cousins would likely have to give the staff a reason to move off him — poor preseason play, turnovers, visible struggles running the offense, or health issues. Kubiak has said he is “not married” to any position, but also that the tape will decide. Right now, the tape still says Mendoza is developing and Cousins is the safer Week 1 option.

Q: Did the Raiders’ sharp opening drive confirm Cousins as the right starter, or only delay the franchise’s bigger decision on Mendoza?

Cousins’ opening drive strengthened the Raiders’ Week 1 plan, but it did not settle the franchise’s long-term quarterback question. The evidence from Thursday was clear on the short-term. Cousins led a 10-play, 68-yard touchdown drive, completed 5 of 6 passes for 50 yards, converted key third downs and looked in command of Kubiak’s offense. Just as important, he was already operating with the first team in camp, and Kubiak said afterward that it remains “his job to lose.” That makes the preseason opener more of a confirmation of the current hierarchy than a turning point. But it was only one series in August, not a final verdict on the future. Mendoza’s debut also mattered. The No. 1 overall pick finished 10 of 16 for 97 yards and a touchdown, showed flashes of anticipation, mobility and arm talent, and led a scoring drive of his own. Kubiak and Mendoza both acknowledged the same issue: the rookie is not fully ready yet. His sack, uneven timing and huddle operation showed why the staff still sees him as an “ascending player” rather than an immediate starter. So the sharp opening drive did not answer the bigger franchise question; it postponed it. The Raiders appear to be following a deliberate plan: open the season with the veteran while developing the rookie behind him. If Cousins is steady and the team is competitive, that timeline could hold. If the offense stalls or the season slips, Mendoza’s promotion will quickly become the defining decision.

3 articles · Updated · NBC Sports · Aug 14

Klint Kubiak said Kirk Cousins is effectively Las Vegas' starting quarterback, calling it "his job to lose" after the veteran worked with the first team through camp.
Five of six passes and one touchdown in Thursday's preseason opener reinforced that standing, with Kubiak saying Cousins has had a solid camp and has done nothing to give up the role.
Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick, also threw a touchdown and finished 10 of 16 for 97 yards, but Kubiak said the rookie still must improve after mistakes including a sack he should not have taken.
September 13 now looks set to bring Cousins under center against Miami in Las Vegas, while Mendoza remains the longer-term franchise option the Raiders expect to keep developing.