Mendoza’s Quiet Start Shocks NFL | Las Vegas Raiders News

Fernando Mendoza, the Las Vegas Raiders’ top draft pick, won’t start Week One — a rare move for a No. 1 overall QB since Baker Mayfield in 2018. Coach Klint Kubiak has named Kirk Cousins the starter, giving Mendoza a backup role to learn from the sidelines. While unusual for a first-round QB, it’s part of a patient development plan after Mendoza showed inconsistency in preseason. This delayed debut reflects the team’s strategy to ease him into the role without immediate pressure — a different path than most recent elite picks, but not entirely unheard of in NFL history. 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/e00a8dc47f1c492e