What happened: Kirk Cousins will remain the Las Vegas Raiders' starting quarterback for now while rookie backup Fernando Mendoza waits for his opportunity, per NFL Network's Mike Garafolo. The update follows comments from head coach Klint Kubiak, who stated that Las Vegas is evaluating everything at quarterback and has a plan for Mendoza to play without setting a timeline.

Why it matters: Cousins has held the starting job since training camp opened in July, keeping the top draft pick in a reserve role through the first stretch of the 2026 regular season. Questions around a potential switch intensified after Sunday's 35-21 loss dropped the Raiders to 3-4 on a four-game losing streak.

What to watch: Cousins remains slated to lead the Raiders' offense in their next game while the coaching staff continues to weigh when to hand the starting job to Mendoza.