Yahoo Sports NFL on Fernando Mendoza

Mendoza benched as rookie; one Cousins poor game could trigger QB change.

Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, will not start Week 1 for the Raiders; Kirk Cousins gets the nod instead. The source indicates Kubiak is avoiding throwing Mendoza into the fire too early as an NFL neophyte, though one poor performance from Cousins could prompt Raider Nation to beckon for Mendoza to become the starting quarterback, especially with the home opener and fan base's hopes riding high.

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