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ArticleNFL preseason Week 2: Browns QB mess, nervous time for Raiders; 9 key takeaways
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It feels odd to hype up Fernando Mendoza's chances of starting early in the season for the Raiders after a game in which he hardly dominated, but that was my takeaway after hearing head coach Klint Kubiak talk postgame. He didn't glaze Mendoza, but he kept the door ajar on a starting announcement.
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STACKED’s take

Positive signalRole

Mendoza's first-team reps and starting audition suggest he could challenge Cousins soon.

Mendoza earned first-team reps in joint practices for the first time and started Thursday night against the Texans, signaling a shift in the Raiders' QB competition. While his pick 6 against the Texans' backups was a tough moment and his overall showing wasn't pristine, head coach Klint Kubiak kept the door ajar on a starting announcement postgame, indicating visible positives. Mendoza sitting a large chunk of the season no longer feels like the set-in-stone plan, though Kirk Cousins is still expected to start Week 1.

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