The Raiders are making the switch, and Fernando Mendoza is the one stepping into the spotlight.
After the Minnesota Vikings and Las Vegas Raiders completed a trade for quarterback Kirk Cousins on Tuesday afternoon, the move sent Cousins back to Minnesota and cleared the path for the Raiders’ No. 1 overall pick to take over under center. Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports reported on X, formerly Twitter, that “With Kirk Cousins headed to Minnesota, No. 1 overall draft pick Fernando Mendoza now takes over as the new QB for the #Raiders. There’s a lot of internal optimism in Vegas that he’s very much ready for this opportunity too,”
Zenitz also cited a source saying, “Has been tearing it up in practice,”
The Raiders had signed Cousins in free agency this past offseason after selecting Mendoza first overall out of Indiana, giving the rookie a veteran quarterback to learn behind in his first NFL season. But after a strong start, Las Vegas and Cousins have cooled off in recent weeks, and the team has apparently decided the playoff chase is no longer the priority.
Now the job belongs to Mendoza, and his first likely start comes with a heavy challenge. The Raiders are set to face the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks this Sunday, a team that brings one of the league’s most feared defenses. Kickoff is scheduled for 4:05 pm ET in Las Vegas, where the home crowd should be loud for the rookie’s debut as the starter.
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Fernando Mendoza Is Suddenly Stepping Into A Huge Raiders Opportunity
Kirk Cousins move from Las Vegas to Minnesota has opened the door for Fernando Mendoza, and the Raiders are now preparing to hand the offense to the No. 1 pick in the 2026 NFL Draft. Mendoza has only appeared in one game so far, but the former Heisman Trophy winner arrived with plenty of attention and the kind of long-term expectations that make any quarterback change feel bigger than a simple lineup shuffle.
Mendoza also enters the job with a little help from the man he is replacing. He praised Cousins for the way he mentored him, and Cousins had already acknowledged Mendozas potential and the chance that he could take over as the starter. For Las Vegas, the timing makes this a pivotal moment, with a young quarterback suddenly stepping into a role that was never going to stay open for long. [Read more 🡒]
Indiana Escapes Syracuse But One Hoosiers Concern Still Lingers
Indiana left Gainbridge Fieldhouse with a hard-fought 83-80 win over Syracuse, and the box score offered plenty of reasons for optimism. Four Hoosiers finished in double figures, Darren Harris and Markus Burton led the way with 20 points apiece, and Indiana did enough on the glass and at the line to survive a game that never really settled into comfort.
Still, the margin for error was thin enough to keep the focus on what comes next. Indianas free-throw shooting was sharp and the offensive rebounding helped create extra chances, but Syracuse also found plenty of clean looks and shot 50.9 percent from the field, a reminder that the Hoosiers were pushed far closer than the final score might suggest. [Read more 🡒]
Indianas Syracuse Win Created An Early KenPom Debate
Indianas win over Syracuse did not just add another result to the ledger, it also kicked off an early conversation about how much weight to put on the numbers behind it. The Hoosiers actually slipped a spot in KenPom from No. 46 to No. 47 overall, even as the offensive profile took a noticeable step forward. Better three-point shooting, cleaner work at the free throw line and extra possessions on the offensive glass all helped push that side of the ball from No. 37 to No. 27.
The defense, meanwhile, took the opposite path in the rankings, falling from No. 55 to No. 70, which is enough to make any early-season snapshot look a little uneasy. Still, the broader read on Indianas defensive effort was not nearly as bleak as the number suggests, with the Hoosiers contesting shots well and showing signs that the unit should improve as the season goes on. For now, it leaves Indiana in the familiar spot of trying to sort out what a single game really says about a team still taking shape. [Read more 🡒]