Fernando Mendoza’s path to the field in Las Vegas doesn’t appear to be opening anytime soon.
During FOX’s Sunday broadcast, play-by-play voice Chris Myers said he had spoken with John Spytek and Klint Kubiak, and both made it clear there’s no firm timetable to work Mendoza into games this season. The message from the Raiders’ head coach and general manager was simple: if Kirk Cousins is handling business and the team keeps winning, they’re sticking with him.
“We asked both the Head Coach and General Manager of the Raiders, ‘Do you have a plan to work in Mendoza?’ and they both said ‘Not necessarily. As long as Cousins is rolling with the team and we’re winning, we’ll stay with that,'” Myers said during the fourth quarter of Sunday’s game.
The broadcast also noted that Mendoza told them he’d be fine spending the entire season on the sideline if that’s what the staff wants.
Do the Raiders have a plan to work in Fernando Mendoza this year? “Not necessarily.” pic.twitter.com/jhynDqAIhD
Cousins was on the field for every snap in Sunday’s 27-14 win over the Dolphins, and while he played well, the game still offered a glimpse of why Mendoza’s preseason arm talent stood out. Cousins isn’t expected to push the ball downfield the way Mendoza did in the preseason, and that difference could matter if the Raiders start seeing defenses crowd the line.
That’s the next test for Las Vegas: how Cousins handles tougher defenses, and whether he has enough arm strength - plus enough help at wide receiver - to challenge teams vertically.
One thing Sunday did show is that Mendoza was locked in from the sideline. Cameras caught him tracking each play on his sheet and rarely removing his helmet.
There was also a clear step forward up front. The Raiders’ offensive line, which was one of the league’s worst in 2025, didn’t allow a sack in Week 1, and Ashton Jeanty topped 100 rushing yards for only the third time in his NFL career.
So when Mendoza eventually gets his chance, he may be stepping into a much sturdier situation than the one the Raiders had a year ago.
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