Pelissero: Cousins among passing leaders as Raiders hit 3-0

Only two teams asked about him as a starter in March

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated 38m1 min read

Kirk Cousins is among the NFL’s passing leaders for the surprising 3-0 Raiders — one of only two teams that even inquire Via @TomPelissero on X

What happened: Tom Pelissero said Las Vegas was one of only two teams to inquire about Kirk Cousins as a starter after his March release. Cousins has 9 touchdown passes through three games as the Raiders opened the season unbeaten.

Why it matters: Las Vegas made Kirk Cousins its Week 1 starting quarterback last month, and the early return has changed the tone around that move quickly. A 3-0 opening after a 3-14 season has turned a thin spring market into one of the NFL's early September reversals.

By the numbers: Cousins has 9 touchdown passes through three games and has thrown at least three scoring passes in each outing, making him the first Raiders quarterback to do that in the season's first three games.

What to watch: Week 4 will show whether Las Vegas can keep the passing surge going once defenses adjust to its early-season tendencies. Another efficient start from Cousins would keep the Raiders unbeaten and extend one of the league's strongest opening-month pivots.

Sources

@TomPelissero 2026-10-03T14:43:11.092949+00:00

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