Raiders slot Fernando Mendoza at QB2 for Week 1

Sunday’s Miami opener kicks off at 1:25 p.m. PT

Wire Report IntelligenceUpdated Sep 81 min read

Fernando Mendoza QB2 for the #Raiders on their depth chart. Via @MikeGarafolo on X

What happened: Kirk Cousins tops Las Vegas’ quarterback order, with Aidan O’Connell third. Mendoza was selected first overall in April.

Why it matters: Mendoza becomes the first No. 1 overall quarterback since Baker Mayfield in 2018 not to start his team’s opener. The assignment instead goes to a veteran with 167 career starts.

By the numbers: Cousins enters the season with 44,700 passing yards, 298 touchdowns and 88 wins.

What to watch: Las Vegas opens against Miami on Sunday, when Mendoza’s game-day role will clarify whether he dresses as the immediate backup.

Sources

@MikeGarafolo 2026-09-08T23:23:33.855966+00:00

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