Mendoza vs Cousins for Raiders QB1 | Las Vegas Raiders News

Las Vegas Raiders News Today | 2 Min News | The Daily News Now! · Aug 19, 2026 · 1m

Raiders’ top pick Fernando Mendoza is lighting up preseason drills, sparking debate over whether he’ll start Week 1 — putting veteran Kirk Cousins, brought in to mentor him, on the hot seat. Cousins isn’t backing down, eager to prove he still belongs and build a strong offense around rising stars Ashton Jeanty and Brock Bowers. Mendoza’s reps with the first-team unit against Houston’s defense — even after a pick-six — signal serious consideration for the starting role. But analysts like Daniel Jeremiah warn that preseason hype doesn’t always translate to regular-season success. The Raiders…