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Raiders' Mendoza Makes NFL Debut
Confirmed
In Short: Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, made his NFL debut in the fourth quarter of the Raiders' game against the New England Patriots.
With the Raiders trailing by 28 points in the fourth quarter, head coach Klint Kubiak turned to Mendoza to replace veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins.
Mendoza's performance was solid, completing 6 of 8 passes for 48 yards and adding a three-yard scramble.
Despite the limited playing time, Mendoza showed promise, making his reads and progressions well, according to analysts.
Cousins, who started the game, had a strong performance with 19 completions out of 28 passes for 243 yards and a touchdown.
Mendoza's debut was seen as a learning opportunity rather than an immediate push for the starting job.
"It's just a matter of time before it really gets to a point where he says, 'Man, I really feel like I've got this,'" Kirk Cousins said of Mendoza last month.
The Raiders' plan is for Mendoza to learn behind Cousins this year before taking over as the starter in 2027.
Mendoza's debut was also noted for its historical context; he became the first No. 1 overall selected quarterback not to start Week 1 since 2018.
The rookie's performance was well-received by fans and analysts, with some calling for more opportunities for Mendoza in the future.
"I know a portion of the fan base will call for Mendoza to start now," said one analyst.
While Mendoza's time on the field was limited, his performance provided a glimpse into his potential as the future of the Raiders' quarterback position.
What this adds
The Raiders' decision to give Mendoza playing time in a blowout game was seen as a strategic move to assess his readiness.
Mendoza's debut did not immediately change the team's plans for the remainder of the season, with Cousins expected to remain the starter.
What's confirmed
- With the Las Vegas Raiders facing a blowout against the New England Patriots, the team turned to Fernando Mendoza to replace Kirk Cousins under center in the fourth quarter.
What's still developing
- But it gave them a chance to see what the future could be, as rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza made his NFL debut.
- The Las Vegas Raiders made the right call by giving Fernando Mendoza the final offensive drive against the Patriots.
- Cousins has had a strong start to the season with 1,269 yards and 12 touchdowns through five games, helping Las Vegas begin the year 3-2.
- He reached a new milestone on Sunday by getting his first NFL action, and he'll look to make the most of his next opportunity when it comes.
- Despite coming in late for the Raiders, it's fair to assume Mendoza will remain the backup for the time being.
- The top pick in the 2026 NFL Draft made his debut on Sunday.
- The 2025 Heisman Trophy winner had a solid start, starting off 5-for-5, including a 16-yard pass on Vegas' final drive of the game.
- On Thursday, playing with Las Vegas’ second team, Mendoza completed 10-of-16 passes for 97 yards over about two quarters of action, including a 6-yard touchdown pass that tied the game at 14.
- Fernando Mendoza has served as Kirk Cousins’ backup, and the No. 1 overall draft pick was called upon late in the game as the Raiders were routed in New England.
- The quarterback threw his first incompletion on the next play, though.
- Mendoza is the next chapter in a story that began long before he arrived in Las Vegas.
- "I remember from a young age searching up on Google if there had ever been any Cuban quarterbacks," he said.