Fernando Mendoza Gets Starting Job After Raiders Trade Cousins
Fernando Mendoza will start at quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders after the team traded Kirk Cousins to Minnesota before the NFL trade deadline. Coach Klint Kubiak said Mendoza’s work in practice convinced the team he was ready for his first game, a home matchup against Seattle.
Fernando Mendoza became the Las Vegas Raiders’ starting quarterback after the team traded Kirk Cousins to Minnesota before the NFL trade deadline, the Raiders said.
The decision puts the rookie in line to make his first start at home against Seattle, the defending Super Bowl champion. The Raiders also have fourth-year quarterback Aidan O’Connell, who has 17 career starts.
Cousins offered Mendoza a three-word message on social media: “Go get em.” He also posted, “Thank you Raider Nation!” alongside a photo of the two quarterbacks walking together.
Raiders general manager John Spytek said the team weighed keeping Cousins for the final eight games against Minnesota’s offer. “Ultimately, we decided to do that,” he said.
Spytek said the club’s plans centered on Mendoza’s readiness. “We’re all kind of staring the future in the face here with Fernando,” he said.
Head coach Klint Kubiak said Mendoza’s practice work helped the team make the change. “His work habits also allow us to make this trade because we feel that he’s ready to go,” Kubiak said.
Mendoza won the Heisman Trophy and led Indiana to a national championship. Raiders owner Mark Davis, part owner Tom Brady and Spytek watched from the sideline when Indiana won the title.
The Raiders have been searching for a quarterback to lead the franchise back to success. The team has made two postseason appearances since its last Super Bowl appearance in the 2002 season and has not won a playoff game during that stretch.
Las Vegas was 4-5 and ranked eighth with 26.4 points per game with Cousins at quarterback. Its running game averaged 71.3 yards, the second-lowest mark in the league.
Cousins had thrown 20 touchdown passes in the regular season, second to Joe Burrow’s 23 for Cincinnati. His deal included a $20 million guarantee, with Atlanta covering $8.7 million.
Kubiak said Cousins had served as a model for Mendoza’s development. “I think with the right role model, that would accelerate his growth,” Kubiak said. “And we had the right role model.”
The coach said Mendoza exceeded expectations in practice but would face a different test in a game. “We all know that live bullets Sunday is far different from practice,” Kubiak said. “However, he’s showed us that he’s ready, not only physically but mentally.”
After the home game against Seattle, the Raiders are scheduled to travel to Denver.
