Klint Kubiak didn’t ease Fernando Mendoza into Tuesday’s work against Houston. He dropped the Las Vegas Raiders rookie quarterback right into the deep end, matching him with the first-team offensive line and sending him out against the Texans’ starting defense in a planned test.
That was the point, Kubiak said.
“That was our plan all along,” he told reporters, while also making clear he wasn’t ready to hand out a final verdict. He said Mendoza “did some good things” but added that he still wants to study the tape before drawing firm conclusions.
For the Raiders, that setup matters. This wasn’t just another camp rep tucked away in the background.
It was Mendoza’s first snaps with the first unit in a joint practice, and it came against a defense that wasn’t wearing silver and black. In camp, that’s as real as the evaluation gets before preseason games start to count.
The timing makes it even more significant. Training camp is heading into its fourth week, and the Raiders are moving toward key roster decisions. Work against outside competition carries more weight than what happens in familiar intrasquad settings, which is why Mendoza getting this kind of look is worth watching closely.
If he’s truly in the running for the starting job, reps like these can shift the conversation fast. Strong film could push him forward.
A rough showing could make it harder to argue he’s ready. Either way, the staff got a cleaner look at where he stands.
Kubiak also had positive things to say about how the practice itself unfolded. The two teams mostly kept things under control, with only one minor scuffle on the defensive side. That made for a cleaner session than the kind that can get derailed by constant pushing and shoving this late in camp.
For now, though, the biggest takeaway is simple: the Raiders wanted Mendoza tested, and they got it. Kubiak’s tone made that clear, too. This was evaluation, not a conclusion, and the film will matter before anyone starts talking in absolutes.
Thursday’s preseason game could offer another chance for Mendoza to keep stacking evidence. If Tuesday’s reps hold up on film, don’t be surprised if he gets extended run again.
In Other News...
Raiders Joint Practice Just Took A Brutal Turn Texans Fans Feared
What was supposed to be a sharp August tune-up between the Raiders and Texans instead turned into a gut punch for Houston, with practice suddenly carrying far more weight than anyone wanted. Jayden Higgins had given the Texans a real early return on their rookie investment last season, finishing his first year with 41 catches, 525 yards and six touchdowns, and the joint session in Las Vegas was another chance for him to keep building on that momentum.
Instead, the evaluation came back far worse than anyone on either sideline could have hoped, and the fallout is now reshaping Houstons plans for the year ahead. For a receiver who looked like he was becoming part of the Texans long-term picture, the loss is a major setback, and the bigger question now is how they absorb it once the season gets going. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Quarterback Plan Suddenly Feels Less Settled Than Expected
The Raiders entered camp with a first-round quarterback in Fernando Mendoza and a clear sense of patience from the front office, but the situation is not quite as fixed as it first appeared. General manager John Spytek has been open about taking a measured approach with the rookie, stressing that the team is willing to let the process play out rather than forcing a timeline before the picture comes into focus.
Spytek also hinted that the decision-making is not happening in a vacuum, which is where the intrigue starts to build for Las Vegas. How Mendoza performs in practice, and how the Raiders are faring once the season gets rolling, could leave the club with more flexibility than a simple preseason plan suggests. For a team trying to balance development with the pressure to win now, that kind of openness can be useful, but it also leaves the quarterback conversation far from settled. [Read more 🡒]