Published October 12, 2026 06:30 AM
The first overall pick of the 2026 draft made his regular season debut on Sunday afternoon.
Fernando Mendoza replaced Kirk Cousins as the Raiders’ quarterback with Las Vegas losing 45-17 to the Patriots with about six minutes left in the fourth quarter. Mendoza went 6-of-8 for 48 yards, but couldn’t put any points on the board before failing to convert a fourth down on a three-yard scramble that left Vegas just short of a first down.
Head coach Klint Kubiak said the rookie did a good job in his brief appearance, but that there’s no thought of a lasting change at quarterback right now. Sunday’s move was made because Kubiak “just wanted to get him some exposure” to regular season football and Mendoza said he appreciated that chance because it will help prepare him for more meaningful action.
“Keep on controlling the controllables,” Mendoza said. “But it is good to have some regular-season snaps to go off, evaluate and get better from. So, if in the future I am called upon, I have at least a little bit of experience rather than none.”
The Raiders have lost two straight after a 3-0 start and a long run of losses could increase the likelihood of a lasting change under center. With the Bills, Rams, 49ers and Seahawks are four of their next five opponents, such a change of fortune would appear to be in the cards in Vegas.