In what has been expected for months, Kirk Cousins will be the Las Vegas Raiders starting quarterback in Week 1 when they host the Miami Dolphins at Allegiant Stadium.
New Las Vegas coach Klint Kubiak made the announcement Wednesday that Cousins and not rookie, No. 1 overall pick, Fernando Mendoza, will lead the team to start the season.
This has long been the expectation. Both Kubiak and Las Vegas general manager John Spytek have said, in a perfect world, they wouldn’t rush a rookie quarterback onto the field. Raiders’ part owner Tom Brady reportedly also was in favor of not of playing Mendoza early.
Cousins, 38, made the decision easy as he had a strong training camp and preseason. The 15th year veteran has played for Kubiak in the past and should give the Raiders a chance to win while Mendoza continues to prepare to start his career.
The Mendoza era is coming, but first, it will be Cousins under center for the Silver and Black.