The Raiders may have opened the offseason with a plan to hand the job to Kirk Cousins, but the quarterback picture in Las Vegas is still very much alive heading into the final preseason game.
That much was reinforced by Tuesday’s practice and Thursday night’s preseason comeback against the Houston Texans. Klint Kubiak has kept pushing the idea that competition exists all over the roster, and the quarterback spot has become the clearest example of it. With Cousins, rookie Fernando Mendoza and veteran Aidan O’Connell all in the mix, Las Vegas has more stability at the position entering the 2026 season than it has had since at least 2023 - but it still hasn’t settled on a Week 1 starter.
Each quarterback has had his moment in training camp and through the first two preseason games. Cousins looked comfortable early in Kubiak’s offense and directed an efficient touchdown drive in the Raiders’ first preseason game.
Mendoza has been solid in practice, flashed real upside in his first preseason outing and stumbled in his second. O’Connell then made his own push Thursday night, helping fuel a 19-0 second-half run against the Texans.
That leaves the Raiders with one more preseason test at home against the San Francisco 49ers before they make a call. Kubiak had already said last week that Cousins is the starter to lose, but after Thursday’s win he made it clear the job still isn’t locked up.
"We got another week, we're playing. I don't anyone to be comfortable in their job.
It should always be that way from all positions. We'll just keep going forward," Kubiak said following Thursday night's comeback win over the Texans, when asked about the Raiders' starting quarterback battle.
There are real differences among the three. Cousins brings experience in multiple offenses, along with familiarity with Kubiak and Andrew Janocko.
Mendoza has the strongest arm in the room. O’Connell profiles as a dependable NFL backup.
Kubiak also came away impressed with the way Mendoza and the rest of the quarterback group handled their preparation before the game.
“I think if you sat in our quarterback meeting the night before the game, listened to him go through his progressions and reads and adjustments, I was very impressed with how prepared he has made himself,” Kubiak said.
“That whole quarterback room, led by Coach [Mike] Sullivan and Andrew [Janocko], have done an excellent job of being prepared. I was pleased with watching the tape. I really like what he did on third down."
The Raiders’ 17-point comeback against Houston was only a preseason result, but it was also Kubiak’s first win as a head coach, and it came with the offense driving the rally. The 19-point second half gave a glimpse of what Las Vegas wants to be able to do no matter who lines up under center.
Kubiak was brought in to build and sustain an offense that can produce. Getting there will require the quarterback room to keep developing, and Thursday night suggested the Raiders can at least stay afloat with any of the three arms they currently have.
After the game, Kubiak also reflected on what the win meant in the bigger picture, especially with his father, Gary Kubiak, standing as the Texans’ all-time winningest head coach.
“It means a lot to our team, you know? We needed to have that game, especially after that first half.
Seen flashes of that from our guys in practice. For them to go do it on a Thursday night game, that's very rewarding to see those young men play their hearts out in the second half," Kubiak said.
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