Fernando Mendoza finally got his first crack at NFL action on Sunday, and even in a short stint, the Raiders’ No. 1 pick gave Las Vegas a little jolt.
Klint Kubiak turned to Mendoza after the Raiders had been buried by the Patriots, with the game already out of reach and Kirk Cousins done for the day. By then, New England’s lead had swelled to 45-17 in the fourth quarter. Mendoza, the reigning Heisman Trophy winner, took his first snaps since the preseason and immediately helped steady the offense.
The rookie opened 5-for-5, including a completion to Tre Tucker that moved the chains. He also showed he could work the ball around, connecting with Ian Thomas, Dylan Laube and Deven Thompkins on the drive. For a quarterback making his NFL debut with limited help around him, the operation looked calm and controlled.
That first series carried the Raiders into the red zone, but the drive stalled at New England’s 14-yard line. On fourth-and-4, Mendoza picked up just three yards, ending his only possession of the afternoon.
For now, Cousins still appears set to remain Las Vegas’ starter, and the Raiders sit at 3-2. The defense was the bigger issue on Sunday, not the quarterback situation. Even so, Mendoza did enough in his brief appearance to avoid any damage to his stock.
The Raiders also showed a willingness to let him use his legs, though this felt more like a quarterback catching the rhythm of live action than one trying to do too much after spending nearly three hours on the sideline. Still, the first look was encouraging. Mendoza looked comfortable, delivered the ball well and gave the offense a cleaner pulse.
It’s only one drive, of course. But as first impressions go, this one worked. Mendoza looked like he belonged.
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The timing matters for Las Vegas because the Patriots are still sorting through several injuries at once, including Gonzalez and Davis, and the available depth at cornerback and receiver is far from ideal. With A.J. Brown and Mack Hollins unavailable at wideout, New England is walking into the game with a thinner margin for error than it would like, and the makeup of the secondary will be worth watching long before the first snap is over. [Read more 🡒]
Chargers Face A Harsh Trade Deadline Question At 0-4
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Still, there is no clear sign the Chargers are eager to go that route. Jim Harbaugh and Joe Hortiz are seen as the kind of leadership pair that could resist a wholesale sell-off, even with the losses piling up, and that leaves the league waiting to see whether frustration turns into action or whether the Chargers try to ride out the slump with the group they have. [Read more 🡒]