The Raiders are turning the page at quarterback, and the move sends Fernando Mendoza straight into the spotlight.
After the Minnesota Vikings and Las Vegas Raiders agreed to a trade for Kirk Cousins on Tuesday afternoon, the path cleared for the No. 1 overall pick to take over under center in Vegas. The deal sends Cousins back to Minnesota and leaves the Raiders ready to hand the offense to Mendoza, who was drafted out of Indiana this past offseason.
There’s already buzz inside the building about what the rookie has shown. Matt Zenitz of CBS Sports reported on X, formerly Twitter, that “There’s a lot of internal optimism in Vegas that he’s very much ready for this opportunity too,” and added that one source said, “Has been tearing it up in practice,”
The Raiders had brought in Cousins in free agency shortly after selecting Mendoza first overall, giving the rookie a veteran quarterback to learn from in his first NFL season. But after a strong start, the team’s momentum faded in recent weeks, and a playoff run no longer looked realistic. That set the stage for Las Vegas to make the switch sooner rather than later.
Mendoza’s first presumed start comes with a tough assignment. The Raiders are set to face the reigning Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks on Sunday at 4:05 pm ET in Las Vegas, and Seattle brings one of the league’s most feared defenses with it. The home crowd should be loud, but the test will be even louder.
In Other News...
Raiders-49ers Game Turned Ugly In A Way Fans Hate
What should have been a routine preseason-style afternoon between the Raiders and 49ers at Levis Stadium instead drew attention for all the wrong reasons, with fan violence breaking out both inside and outside the venue. The scene forced Santa Clara police into a heavy response as they worked to restore order around the stadium and keep the situation from escalating further.
Police are still sorting through what happened in several separate confrontations, and they have urged witnesses to come forward as part of the investigation. For a rivalry game that already carries plenty of edge, the ugly scenes left officials focused less on the football and more on accountability, with authorities making clear they intend to pursue criminal conduct wherever it is identified. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Ground Game Just Hit An Ugly New Low
The Raiders running game has been stuck in the mud for a while, but Sundays loss to the 49ers offered another grim snapshot of just how far off track it has become. Ashton Jeanty led the backfield in rushing with 25 yards on six carries, while Mike Washington managed negative three yards on six attempts, leaving the offense with little push between the tackles and even less room to breathe.
Jeanty also was heavily involved as a receiver, but the production never followed the touches in a game that underscored the lack of efficiency across the board. For a team already struggling to find any rhythm on the ground, the bigger concern is that the season-long numbers keep sliding in the wrong direction, and there is no easy fix in sight. [Read more 🡒]
Tom Brady's Fox Return Creates An Awkward Raiders Question
Tom Brady is back in Foxs NFL booth, and his return has already revived one of the more unusual side stories around the Raiders. As a part-owner in Las Vegas, Brady brings a different kind of baggage than the typical analyst, which is why his schedule has been watched closely ever since he rejoined the networks game coverage. So far, though, he has not been assigned to call a Raiders game, leaving the obvious question hanging over his broadcasting comeback.
The issue is less about Bradys comfort on camera than the awkward overlap between his new role and his team stake. Fox can work around plenty of broadcast quirks, but a Raiders assignment would invite scrutiny in a way most games would not. Brady has already shown he can still lean into the lighter side of NFL banter, recently making a playful remark about the Patriots current quarterback, but the bigger question is whether the network and league will ever want him in a booth for a game involving Las Vegas. [Read more 🡒]