The Raiders are through their preseason slate, and that leaves them in the waiting period before the 2026 NFL regular season opens in about two weeks. For Las Vegas, there’s plenty to keep an eye on as the real thing approaches.
Klint Kubiak is set to make his debut as head coach after winning a Super Bowl, and the offense also has a new quarterback in place to raise the ceiling from last season. At the same time, the franchise quarterback of the future is still in development, with Kirk Cousins handling the starting job to begin the year.
That setup is part of why Fernando Mendoza’s preseason work drew attention even after an interception against the San Francisco 49ers. Tyler Sullivan of CBS Sports handed Mendoza an A grade for the final week of preseason play, pointing out that there’s no need to rush him onto the field.
"Similar to his pick-six against Houston, Mendoza's interception came on a play-action play where he was under center. The ball was too high for his intended target, was tipped, and hauled in by the Niners. Given that Mendoza had little experience working under center in college, it's not surprising to see those growing pains," Sullivan said.
The mistake fits into a bigger pattern the Raiders likely expected. Play-action should be one of Mendoza’s best tools once he settles in, but the adjustment to operating under center is still part of the learning curve. He had very limited experience doing that in college, so preseason is the right place for those reps, especially when the consequences are far lower than they would be in the regular season.
There’s also a clear path for the rookie to keep growing without being thrown into the fire. If Cousins gives Las Vegas steady play in his reunion with Kubiak, the Raiders can keep Mendoza developing on the side. If Cousins doesn’t hold up, the pressure to turn to the rookie will only grow.
The praise for Mendoza hasn’t just been about the stat line or the mistakes. Raiders cornerback Eric Stokes offered his own view of the young quarterback, saying, "#Raiders CB Eric Stokes on Fernando Mendoza:"The back shoulder throws are a killer ...
He's just growing, day by day, to where you can see it in his play, talk, and confidence. He's not making the same mistake twice." pic.twitter.com/CY0PtxK2HO
That kind of feedback lines up with the bigger picture from the preseason: Mendoza’s errors are part of the process, not a reason to panic. With games now over, his job shifts to improving each week and staying locked in from the sideline.
Even without live snaps, there’s value in watching the offense unfold up close. That time on the sideline should matter when Mendoza eventually gets his turn as the starter.
In Other News...
Raiders Made A Few Telling Calls On Their First 53-Man Roster
The Raiders settled on their initial 53-man roster with the kind of choices that usually tell you as much about the teams thinking as the depth chart itself. One of the clearest moves came with the trade of offensive lineman Jordan Meredith to the Jets, while the rest of the roster took shape across the usual position groups, including three quarterbacks, four running backs or fullbacks, and six wide receivers.
It is still only the first version of the roster, and Las Vegas already has some players on injured reserve as it turns its attention to Week One against the Dolphins. As always around cutdown day, the list is less a finished product than a snapshot, and the Raiders may still be active on the waiver wire as they try to fine-tune the group that will open the season. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders 53-Man Roster Already Created Some Clear Winners And Losers
The Raiders initial 53-man roster came together at the cutdown deadline, and even before the dust settled it was clear some players had come out of the process in better shape than others. Patrick Johnson, Ashton Jeanty, Mike Washington Jr., Foley Fatukasi, Aidan OConnell, Cody Lindenberg, Tommy Eichenberg, Matt Gay and Alex Ward all found themselves on the right side of the numbers, a sign their spots and roles are at least intact as the team turns the page toward the season.
For others, the same deadline brought a far different reality. Keyron Crawford, Atonio Mafi and J.J. Pegues were among the players on the wrong side of the roster math, a reminder of how quickly opportunity can narrow in late August. The early read on this group is less about finality than fallout, because the first version of the roster often says as much about where a player stands with the Raiders as any summer practice ever could. [Read more 🡒]
Raiders Defense Just Got A New Name To Watch Up Front
After roster cutdown day, the Raiders initial 53-man group brought a clearer look at where the defensive front is headed, and second-year tackle Tonka Hemingway is suddenly right in the middle of it. What started as a promising camp battle turned into a real opportunity, with Hemingway flashing the kind of pass-rush ability and athleticism that can change the shape of an interior line.
Hemingway has now landed as a full-time starter next to veteran Adam Butler, giving Las Vegas a different look inside heading into the 2026 season. For a defense that wants more disruption up front, his rise is one of the more interesting developments on the roster, especially after the way he handled both training camp and the preseason. [Read more 🡒]