The Las Vegas Raiders didn’t get much right in Week 5, but Fernando Mendoza’s first regular-season action gave them at least a brief look at what the No. 1 overall pick can bring.
By the time Mendoza entered, the game was already out of reach. Las Vegas had fallen into a big early hole against the New England Patriots and never found a way back, turning in a road performance that was forgettable from start to finish. The offense stalled again, the defense was left out there too long, and the Raiders spent the day looking nothing like a team capable of keeping up.
That was the backdrop for Mendoza’s debut. With the Raiders down by nearly 30 points, Klint Kubiak and the coaching staff made the switch and sent the rookie in for Kirk Cousins, whose afternoon had already been wrecked by New England’s pass rush. It wasn’t a spot anyone would’ve chosen for a first look, but it was the right moment to get Mendoza on the field.
He only got one drive, so there’s a limit to how much can be taken from it. The situation was different, the sample was tiny, and the Patriots weren’t asking the same questions they had of Cousins earlier. Even so, a few things still jumped off the page.
Mendoza got the ball out quickly. He also showed enough willingness to use his legs that it seemed to help loosen things up, even in a game that was already slipping away.
There probably wasn’t a ton of game plan built specifically for him at that stage, so the play sheet may not have been especially deep. But the traits were visible.
On the stat sheet, Mendoza completed six of eight passes and ran for three yards. Mike Washington added five rushing yards, and Dylan Laube picked up nine. It was one of those stretches where you have to squint a little and read between the lines, but the rookie’s brief run still offered something to watch.
After five games, the Raiders’ offensive ceiling with Cousins at the controls feels pretty clear. Mendoza still has plenty to learn, but the case for more regular-season reps is starting to make sense. Las Vegas has two tougher games left before a road trip to the New York Jets, and if the team is serious about winning this season, it has to be honest about what’s holding the offense back.
The bigger point is hard to miss: one of the Raiders’ quarterbacks looks better suited to work with the pieces on the field. Teams are beginning to sort out the offense, and Mendoza needs more chances to play.
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