Fernando Mendoza’s rookie season could take an unexpected turn. Will the Las Vegas Raiders‘ first-round quarterback start in Week 1 or begin as the third-stringer?
The Las Vegas Raiders spent the No. 1 overall pick on Mendoza, the Heisman-winning quarterback who led Indiana to an undefeated national championship. Naturally, the expectation is that he opens the 2026 season as at least the backup behind Kirk Cousins.
But according to Raiders reporter Q Myers, there’s a very real scenario where Mendoza isn’t even QB2.
On a recent episode of the Locked On Raiders Squad Show, Myers raised the possibility that Mendoza could start the season as the third-string quarterback, behind both Cousins and Aidan O’Connell. To make his case, Myers pointed to a familiar name: Jared Goff.
“When the Rams traded up and drafted Jared Goff number one overall, remember, he was the third-string quarterback to start the season?” Myers said. “He was on the sideline with a baseball hat and a clipboard in his hand… The reality is that could be Fernando Mendoza.”
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Myers’ logic isn’t about talent but rather roster management. If Cousins gets banged up mid-game, the Raiders would rather have O’Connell, a known commodity, step in than rush Mendoza onto the field before he’s ready. Once a rookie quarterback plays, you can’t easily put him back on the bench. That means the Raiders may keep Mendoza inactive longer than fans expect, purely to protect his development timeline.
Who will the Raiders go with in Week 1?
It’s not a far-fetched theory. Through spring practices, the pecking order has been consistent: Cousins first, O’Connell second, Mendoza third. Head coach Klint Kubiak has stated that the best player will play in Week 1, and Cousins was the top performer this spring, according to his own admission.
Still, it’s worth noting Kubiak has raved about Mendoza’s early progress, calling him “as advertised” and praising his work ethic and constant questions. Teammates have echoed that, describing him as a fast learner who’s already earning respect in the quarterback room.
So which is it: a Goff-style redshirt year or a rookie who forces his way onto the field? For now, the indications suggest that patience is the best course of action. Whether Raider Nation has the same patience is a different question entirely.
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