Whereas talking with reporters on the NFL’s annual conferences this week, first-year Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak indicated that he’s not keen to name a rookie quarterback the workforce’s Week 1 starter.
On Wednesday, Indiana Hoosiers star and presumed No. 1 general draft choose Fernando Mendoza advised he was getting ready to serve because the Raiders’ QB1 all through the upcoming marketing campaign. It seems like Mendoza will enter September as a backup on the Las Vegas roster.
Raiders make Kirk Cousins, Fernando Mendoza choice
As shared by ESPN and Nick Shook of the NFL’s web site, the agent for former Atlanta Falcons
quarterback Kirk Cousins confirmed on Thursday that the 37-year-old is signing with the Raiders. Cousins will virtually actually start the 2026 season atop Vegas’ depth chart except he goes down with an damage or appears to be like effectively previous his prime throughout summer time training-camp practices. Phrases of Cousins’ take care of the Raiders weren’t instantly accessible.
Most lately, Cousins went 5-2 and recorded 10 landing passes with 5 interceptions over the ultimate seven weeks of Atlanta’s 2025 season because the first-choice possibility whereas Michael Penix Jr. recovered from surgical procedure he wanted to repair {a partially} torn ACL. Some had wondered if Cousins was ready to listen to from the Pittsburgh Steelers, nevertheless it appears that future Corridor of Famer Aaron Rodgers will quickly re-sign with the Steelers.
Why Raiders seemingly wished to pair Fernando Mendoza with Kirk Cousins
Kubiak revealed this week that he and Raiders minority proprietor Tom Brady have spoken on a weekly (or generally day by day) foundation through the offseason. Previously, Brady has made it known that he thinks quarterbacks ought to spend no less than parts of their rookie seasons studying about life within the NFL as backups.
Whereas the state of affairs involving Penix and Cousins was awkward at occasions, the veteran reportedly was a constructive mentor for the 2024 first-round draft choose once they have been teammates. Cousins now shall be tasked with attempting to assist the 2026 Raiders win video games following the membership’s failed Maxx Crosby commerce, and with serving to Mendoza turn out to be the franchise savior these throughout the group hope he’ll be.
