Raiders HC Hints at Possibly Starting Fernando Mendoza Over Kirk Cousins After Raiders’ 4th Consecutive Loss

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak teases big update at quarterback after losing to the Rams in Week 7.

Raiders HC Hints at Possibly Starting Fernando Mendoza Over Kirk Cousins After Raiders’ 4th Consecutive Loss

(L) Kirk Cousins and (R) Fernando Mendoza (Image via FOX Sports)

Fernando Mendoza has mostly been a clip holder in the first seven weeks of the season, with Kirk Cousins seeing all the action in the middle for the Las Vegas Raiders. The only action Mendoza saw was warm-up passes.

Klint Kubiak didn’t consider making a change under center when his team trailed by three touchdowns in the fourth quarter. He stuck with the veteran signal caller.

Kubiak’s instincts paid off—sort of. Cousins threw two touchdowns, but failed to convert on the two-point attempts. The Los Angeles Rams quickly capitalized through running back Blake Corum with a 4-yard touchdown run.

The Raiders lost 35-21 in the end. It was the Raiders’ fourth straight defeat after starting the season 3-0. Despite the outcome, Kubiak isn’t ready to swipe Cousins for Mendoza.

I think we have to go watch the film, and I think at this point, we’re thinking about everything. How to fix our problems. How to fix our issues in the red zone. In the third quarter and personnel, scheme—we’ve got to talk about all of it.

Klint Kubiak told Sam Gordon of the Las Vegas Review-Journal.
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Kirk Cousins is ready to give up starter’s job

The string of losses might imply that Kirk Cousins had a poor October. The stats tell a different story. The 38-year-old quarterback leads the NFL with 16 touchdown passes this season.

The veteran also ranks sixth in attempts (257) and sixth in passer rating (97.4) among quarterbacks with at least 200 passes, per ESPN research.

Raiders HC Hints at Possibly Starting Fernando Mendoza Over Kirk Cousins After Raiders' 4th Consecutive Loss
Kirk Cousins (Image via IMAGO)

Cousins has done that without a stable run game. The Raiders rank 31st in that category despite boasting former Heisman finalist and second overall draft pick Ashton Jeanty and ex-Arkansas star Mike Washington on the roster.

Moreover, Cousins is a traditional pocket passer. He doesn’t like to move around much. So, defensive coordinators blitz him hard. Fernando Mendoza has a similar set of skills to Cousins, but he’s also a sneaky good scrambler.

So, maybe it’s time for Kubiak to give the first overall pick of 2026 a run next week. Cousins has no reservations. He will gladly step aside for Mendoza.

If I’m not the best option, then I don’t want to be out there either. I want our football team to have the best chance to have games. If at the first OTA, that would’ve become apparent, I would’ve been the first one to say, ‘Yeah, you can’t play me…’  I feel that Fernando has done a great job and has [a] bright future ahead.

Kirk Cousins said

Mendoza made his league debut in the blowout 45-17 loss to the New England Patriots. He came on in the fourth quarter and completed 6 of 8 passes for 48 yards. In the preseason, he completed 25 of 45 passes for 240 yards, one touchdown, and 2 interceptions.

The Raiders play the New York Jets next week. The Jets suffered their fifth defeat of the season at the hands of division rivals the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. The Raiders lead the series 27-20-2. They last played in November 2023. The Raiders won 16-12.

Cousins is 2-2 against the Jets in his career. He last faced the Gang Green last year with the Atlanta Falcons. He completed 21 of 33 passes for 234 yards and one touchdown, but the Falcons lost 28-27.

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