Orlovsky urges patience with Fernando Mendoza's preseason development

The No. 1 pick is two preseason games into his career

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Aug 211 min read

Development is a process and Mendoza is going through his. Reps X 10000 Via @danorlovsky7 on X

What happened: Dan Orlovsky said Fernando Mendoza's growth will require sustained repetition, distilling his view to "Reps X 10000." Mendoza played five series in his second preseason appearance and produced one field-goal drive.

Why it matters: Mendoza is adapting from extensive shotgun work to operating under center, increasing the value of live repetitions. The remaining preseason work will help determine how quickly his responsibilities expand.

By the numbers: Across two preseason appearances, Mendoza is 18-of-31 for 183 yards with one touchdown and one interception. His completion rate declined from 62.5% in his debut to 53.3% in his second game.

What to watch: The final preseason game is next Thursday, with decision-making and command the clearest markers of progress.

Sources

@danorlovsky7 2026-08-21T20:08:24.508513+00:00

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