Tre Tucker isn’t sugarcoating what he’s seeing from Fernando Mendoza. The Raiders wideout says the rookie quarterback keeps taking a step forward every time he gets on the field, and that growth stood out to him during last week’s joint practice against the Houston Texans.
“He gets better every time he goes out there,” Tucker said. “It was really cool to kind of see him command the offense.”
That kind of feedback matters, especially coming from Tucker, who is viewed as the presumptive WR1. This isn’t just another camp soundbite from inside the building. Tucker’s assessment offers a real look at how Mendoza is handling himself in a competitive setting, and how his connection with the Raiders’ top receiver is developing as the quarterback battle behind Kirk Cousins continues.
Tucker also made clear that the Raiders are keeping their focus on the daily grind rather than getting ahead of themselves. “We come to work and do our job every day,” he said.
“We obviously have a lot of room for improvement.” He added that the team is locked in on steady, day-by-day progress, per Jesse Merrick of Silver & Black Sports Network.
That progression could matter even more soon. The Mendoza-Tucker pairing may get another chance to show something in the final preseason game, where Andrew Janocko is likely to use it as part of the evaluation of the quarterback room. Tucker’s own role is tied to whoever is delivering the football, so his comfort with Mendoza is a detail worth watching as the Raiders shape their offensive identity heading into final roster cuts.
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Raiders Roster Bubble Is Getting Tough To Ignore After McCollums Push
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Raiders Camp Battle Could Decide Whether This Secondary Finally Improves
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Darien Porter, entering his second season, is trying to hold off rookie Jermod McCoy for a starting spot next to Stokes. McCoy comes in with a little extra uncertainty after pre-draft knee injuries, so this competition is about more than just pedigree or draft status. For Las Vegas, it is also one of the most important jobs on the roster, because the answer there will go a long way toward showing whether the offseason changes were enough. [Read more 🡒]