Kelce sees Cousins accelerating Mendoza's NFL education

Cousins opened camp ahead of the No. 1 overall pick.

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Aug 201 min read

"So much of what a rookie learns isn't just from the coaches, it's what you learn from the veterans." —@JasonKelce on h Via @ESPNNFL on X

What happened: Jason Kelce said rookies learn from veteran teammates as well as coaches. He cited Kirk Cousins' presence as a resource for Fernando Mendoza.

Why it matters: Mendoza is entering the NFL behind a 15th-year quarterback with 167 career starts. Cousins began camp atop Mendoza on the depth chart, giving the rookie time to develop without immediately directing the offense.

By the numbers: Cousins entered 2026 with 44,700 passing yards, 298 touchdowns and a 66.7% completion rate across 174 games. Mendoza joined him as the 2026 No.

What to watch: Preseason repetitions and subsequent depth charts will show whether Mendoza closes the gap before the opener.

Sources

@ESPNNFL 2026-08-20T23:27:02.719071+00:00

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