Will Fernando Mendoza Play Against Miami Dolphins in Week 1 Game (Getty Images)
The Raiders signed Cousins with a clear purpose — give the veteran the starting spot, let him mentor the rookie, and avoid throwing a 22-year-old into the deep end before he is ready.
Kubiak had previously said he wished Mendoza had three more preseason games to keep developing. In a “Good Morning America” interview this week, the rookie offered a response that caught people off guard: “It feels great,” Mendoza said. That tells you where the coaching staff really stands on his readiness. Mendoza, to his credit, has not pushed back on any of it.
Kubiak officially named Mendoza the second-string quarterback on Friday, confirming what most around the league had already assumed.
Cousins will be the ninth different player to start at quarterback for the Raiders since Derek Carr was pushed out near the end of the 2022 season.
Raiders GM John Spytek said Tuesday: “His time is coming, but he’s got to earn it every day, and he knows that. “And that might be not what you’re expecting to hear. However, I am all for whatever the team wants and whatever is best for the team. That kind of maturity is encouraging for a franchise that has burned through quarterbacks at an alarming rate. Stability at the position is something this organization desperately needs, and that is exactly what they are trying to build — just not with the player most expected. I think we’re all very pleased with the person and his work ethic and his commitment to being a great quarterback. Mendoza, for his part, made his position crystal clear: “The coaches decided that that is best for the team, so I’m all in. I’m excited to see my guys go out there and play and try to be the best teammate possible.”