Fernando Mendoza has spent most of his first few months in the NFL watching, learning and practicing rather than playing in actual games.
But his time as veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins’ backup ended this week, and Mendoza appears eager to embrace the “once-in-a-lifetime” opportunity that awaits him. Although Mendoza described becoming the Las Vegas Raiders’ starting quarterback as a “new step,” he also said he didn’t want to make the mistake of making the moment larger than it needed to be.
Mendoza’s first regular-season start will come Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks, whose vaunted defense helped propel them to last season’s Super Bowl title.
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Mendoza said his work and Cousins’ mentorship have helped him gain confidence and earn the trust of his teammates and coach Klint Kubiak.
“I’m a lot more confident as a quarterback and feel more developed, whether it’s [playing] under center, connecting with teammates, understanding an NFL scheme,” the No. 1 selection in April’s NFL Draft said Wednesday. “There are so many areas that I have improved on, and I look forward to keep on improving.”
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Mendoza’s teammates can certainly relate to what the young quarterback is facing as he adjusts to the NFL. That support includes standout tight end Brock Bowers, who said he is “excited” to see the rookie can do when he makes his first NFL start.
“Everyone has faith in him,” Bowers said. “[Mendoza] might have a bad play here and there, but you just got to flush it. I know he does a good job at that.”
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Raiders wide receiver Tre Tucker praised the consistency Mendoza brings to the quarterback position. Tucker also said it was encouraging to see the rookie settle into a rhythm during Wednesday’s practice, when Mendoza took first-team reps.
“We’ve been seeing it all year,” Tucker said. “He’s been taking reps with us. He’s been doing everything, and you just see a throw in practice and say, ‘Wow.’ For that to be out there this Sunday is going to be fun.”
The Vikings sent a third-round pick to Las Vegas for Cousins before Tuesday’s trade deadline. The move reunited Cousins with coach Kevin O’Connell and returned him to a franchise and offensive system in which he had found success. Cousins played for Minnesota from 2018 through 2023
The trade was one of the more surprising moves amid a flurry of deals and caught Mendoza off guard. He said he had “no inkling” his mentor would be traded.
“People were like, ‘Kirk got traded,’ and everyone just said that’s the nature of the business, and that’s how it is,” Mendoza said. “And I’m excited to see Kirk in his future.”
Mendoza won the Heisman Trophy last year en route to Indiana’s undefeated season and the program’s first ever national title. The Raiders did not want to rush Mendoza’s development, so they brought in Cousins as a bridge quarterback to start the season.
Cousins helped the Raiders surpass their win total from last season. In nine starts, he threw for 2,340 yards, 20 touchdowns and eight interceptions. Cousins rushed for one touchdown and threw another, but was intercepted three times in what proved to be his final start in a Raiders uniform.