Despite using the No. 1 pick on Fernando Mendoza, the Las Vegas Raiders aren’t ready to name him their starting quarterback.
Kirk Cousins has started all six games for the Raiders, completing 63.4% of his passes for 1,582 yards with 14 touchdowns and five interceptions. Mendoza, on the other hand, only received limited snaps in Week 5 against the Patriots. The Heisman Trophy winner completed 6 of 8 pass attempts for 48 yards.
Even though Mendoza won’t be starting this Sunday against the Los Angeles Chargers, he did receive praise from his head coach this week.
“I’m very pleased with where he’s at, and none of us really know until he goes and plays. But he’s doing everything that we’re asking him to do,” Raiders coach Klint Kubiak said, via Pro Football Talk. “Really, he’s doing more than asked, and that’s just his character.”
Kubiak added that Mendoza is going the extra mile whenever possible.
“I think it’s as simple as me just walking down the hall here to go get in the steam room when everybody’s gone, and he’s out here on the field by himself.”
Kirby Lee-Imagn Images.
Will Mendoza earn the QB1 job?
At 3-3, the Raiders aren’t feeling any pressure to make a quarterback change. That could change though if they lose their next few games against the Rams, Jets and 49ers.
If the Raiders stumble over the next month, they could name Mendoza their starter either before or during their bye week in December.
After all, Raiders fans will be itching to see Mendoza with the first-team offense.
