Mendoza's Debut Delayed | Las Vegas Raiders News

The Las Vegas Raiders’ shocking move to draft Heisman-winning QB Fernando Mendoza with the No. 1 pick has fans buzzing — but he’s not starting Week 1 against the Dolphins. Veteran Kirk Cousins gets the nod, with Mendoza ready as the backup, learning behind the scenes. This is the first time since 2018 that a top overall QB hasn’t opened the season under center — and Mendoza’s handling it with poise, fully committed to winning. From lightly recruited high schooler to national champion and franchise cornerstone, his journey is nothing short of legendary. While he won’t be throwing in the opener, his role is critical — and his development could shape the Raiders’ future for years to come. 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.Sources:https://sports.yahoo.com/articles/fernando-mendoza-playing-today-why-232400184.html More coverage & latest updates:https://sources.thednn.ai/b30427ddf48db50b Report issues to [email protected].