We wouldn’t quite call it Fernando-mania, but Las Vegas Raiders fans are understandably excited about how No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza performed in his NFL preseason debut Thursday night.
Mendoza completed 10 of 16 passes for 97 yards and a touchdown across four drives in the Raiders’ 27-14 loss to the Arizona Cardinals. The 2025 Heisman Trophy winner wasn’t perfect, but he settled in as his stint progressed.
“He led a good scoring drive,” Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak said of Mendoza, via Pro Football Talk. “As far as getting and out of the huddle, commanding the group, getting the play calls down, I saw the same guy I see in practice. I saw an ascending player who’s got to keep getting better.”
Of course, given the Raiders’ enormous investment in Mendoza and unlikeliness to compete for a playoff spot in 2026, there are already calls for the Indiana University product to unseat veteran Kirk Cousins as the Week 1 starter. ESPN’s Dan Orlovsky isn’t one of the people making them though.
Orlovsky makes his feelings clear
On ESPN this morning, analyst and former NFL defensive lineman Chris Canty stated his case for why Mendoza should start right away.
“The trend has been when you’re the No. 1 overall pick at quarterback, you’re gonna play,” Canty said. “The last time we saw a No. 1 pick at quarterback not play Week 1 was Baker Mayfield [in 2018].”
“I understand they got Kirk Cousins in the building so that he [Mendoza] is not the starter,” Canty continued. “They don’t want him to be the starter. But I will say this: everybody has to love what they saw from Fernando Mendoza last night.”
As Canty spoke, Orlovsky looked on with disbelief. Afterwards, the former NFL signal caller and longtime analyst reiterated his feelings on X.
“Mendoza shouldn’t play Week 1,” he tweeted.
Klint Kubiak agrees
Orlovsky also released a three-minute segment breaking down Mendoza’s touchdown drive and offering praise, so it’s not like he is dismissing the rookie. He just thinks it would be foolish to throw Mendoza into the fire too soon.
For what it’s worth, Las Vegas’ first-year head coach agrees.
“Kirk’s been getting the reps with the ones. I think he’s had a solid training camp and it’s his job to lose,” Kubiak said after Thursday’s game.
The Raiders have been consistent about saying Cousins is QB1. Mendoza has two more opportunities in the preseason to make them change their minds, starting with next Thursday’s game in Houston against the Texans.
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