What happened: Fernando Mendoza is set to make his first career NFL start when the Las Vegas Raiders face the Seattle Seahawks on Sunday. Team officials pointed to Mendoza's consistent preparation throughout the regular season as he steps into the lineup against the defending Super Bowl champions.
Why it matters: The promotion signals an accelerated timeline after Las Vegas previously planned to hold out Fernando Mendoza as long as possible during his rookie season. The Raiders sit at 4-5 through nine games and look to rebound from a 38-17 loss to the 49ers.
By the numbers: Mendoza has completed 6 of 8 passes for 48 yards in one game this season after entering the league as the No. Las Vegas enters Week 10 at 4-5 (seed 9), while Seattle sits at 5-4 (seed 8) after a 17-3 win over Arizona.
What to watch: Mendoza and the Raiders host Seattle on Sunday in the rookie's first regular-season start.