Mike Sullivan isn’t handing out participation trophies. But when the Las Vegas Raiders‘ quarterbacks coach breaks down Fernando Mendoza’s camp so far, the message underneath the caution is clear: the rookie is closing gaps, not opening new ones.
Sullivan addressed reporters amid training camp ahead of this week’s preseason opener. He offered a measured but positive assessment of Mendoza’s progress through the early stages of training camp. Asked what stood out from Mendoza’s extended reps with the offense, Sullivan was candid about the work still ahead while pointing to tangible growth since the spring session.
“Fernando, he needs to improve,” Sullivan said, before pivoting to what the staff has seen change. “The thing I think we’re very pleased about is from the spring to the start of camp, there were some parts of his game we wanted him to improve upon and he has.”
The rookie is handling everything that the Raiders are throwing at him…
Sullivan specifically cited Mendoza’s handling of increased complexity. That includes crowd noise simulation and silent snap counts as evidence of retention rather than repeated errors. “He’s not repeating mistakes, which is always a good thing,” Sullivan said, adding that development at the position is not linear. “It’s a process; it’s a long process. We’re pleased with how he’s developing.”
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The second question turned to workload, specifically why Mendoza has been getting full practice periods with the first-team offense. Sullivan framed those reps less as a reward and more as controlled exposure to game-speed conditions. He said that approach applies regardless of which units Mendoza lines up against.
“As much as he has opportunities that are going to put him in realistic situations, and it could be with the threes or the twos or the ones,” Sullivan said. He noted that facing better defensive competition raises the tempo in ways that matter for evaluation.
Sullivan also gently pushed back on any notion that Mendoza is being rushed. He credited the rookie’s temperament for keeping the process grounded.
“I think it’s important that he doesn’t get too far ahead of himself, which a young man like that doesn’t do, and he is locked in on the process and just trying to improve,” Sullivan said.
The comments suggest a coaching staff cautiously optimistic about Mendoza’s trajectory. For now, the emphasis remains on incremental gains rather than immediate declarations about his readiness for a larger role.
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