Fernando Mendoza didn’t need long to give Raiders fans something to latch onto Thursday night.
In his first NFL action, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft stepped onto the field for Las Vegas in a preseason meeting with the Arizona Cardinals at Allegiant Stadium and immediately became the center of attention. The Raiders lost 27-14, but the final score wasn’t the headline for a rookie quarterback making his first live appearance in silver and black.
Mendoza checked in on the Raiders’ second offensive drive, late in the first quarter, and worked behind the second-team offensive line. Before the game, head coach Klint Kubiak had said Mendoza could get snaps with some first-team linemen mixed in, according to Yahoo Sports, and that’s essentially how the rotation unfolded. He shared quarterback work with veteran Kirk Cousins, who is expected to open the regular season as Las Vegas’s starter, as well as fellow backup Aidan O’Connell.
The stat line was tidy: Mendoza finished 10 of 16 for 97 yards and a touchdown. His best moment came on a 6-yard scoring throw to Jack Bech that tied the game at 14-14. He also came close to another touchdown in the fourth quarter, but overthrew Deven Thompkins on a deep shot.
That first scoring pass carried a little extra weight. Per the Associated Press, via CBS Sports, Mendoza became the first No. 1 overall pick to throw a touchdown pass in his preseason debut since Baker Mayfield did it for Cleveland in 2018.
For Las Vegas, the encouraging part wasn’t just the touchdown. Mendoza wasn’t sacked more than once, and he didn’t commit a turnover. For any rookie quarterback in his first game, that’s the kind of clean work a coaching staff wants to see.
Kubiak was pleased with what he got.
The reaction online, though, came fast and loud. The NFL’s account on X highlighted one of Mendoza’s sharper throws with the caption: “Fernando Mendoza threading the needle!”
Fernando Mendoza threading the needle!
Stream on @NFLPlus pic.twitter.com/PC9UPZvRxA
- NFL (@NFL) August 14, 2026
That clip sparked a wave of responses. One fan wrote, “I’ve seen enough.
Welcome back Tom Brady.” Another called the tight-window throw an “absolute laser beam.”
A third pointed to the difficulty of the throw itself: “The window he fit that ball into was impressive.”
The praise kept rolling. “He only gets better and better!
Let’s go!” one fan posted.
Another, referencing part-owner Tom Brady - who according to Silver and Black Pride was in attendance and has been at past preseason games - said, “Looking a little Bradyish right here…” One more simply summed up the vibe: “Fernando is so fun to watch.”
It’s still only August, and Mendoza was facing Arizona’s backups. The Cardinals also had a strong night at quarterback, with Jacoby Brissett and Gardner Minshew combining to go 15 of 15 for 123 yards and three touchdowns in the first half, per CBS Sports.
Even so, the Raiders got the kind of first look they wanted from their rookie: calm, efficient, and mistake-free, with a touchdown mixed in for good measure. Las Vegas returns to preseason action next Thursday at Houston.
Fernando Mendoza’s preseason debut by the numbers
Stat Fernando Mendoza (Preseason Wk 1)
Completions/Attempts 10/16
Passing Yards 97
Touchdowns 1 (6-yard TD to Jack Bech)
Sacks Taken 1
Turnovers 0
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