Cousins Stays, Mendoza Watches | Las Vegas Raiders News

Kirk Cousins is officially the Raiders’ Week One starter, sealing his role with a veteran’s blend of experience and consistency over the young, highly touted Fernando Mendoza. Despite Mendoza’s solid preseason stats, Cousins’ track record — including 15 NFL seasons, playoff appearances, and proven reliability — tipped the scales. The Raiders are banking on Cousins as a bridge QB to keep them competitive now while grooming Mendoza for future leadership. With rotating QBs like Aiden O’Connell also in the mix, the plan is clear: Cousins starts, Mendoza waits until December, and the long-term vision remains firmly in place. Listen in comfort:Get a discount on a Soli Pillow: http://solipillow.com/discount/dnn. Advertise on DNN:[email protected] This is an automated, high-level news summary based on public reporting.Report issues to [email protected]. View sources & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/48af480ba3d5773a