Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak has chosen veteran Kirk Cousins as the Week 1 starter, with No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza beginning the season as his backup. The announcement, made Wednesday, preserves Cousins as the team’s opening-day quarterback for the Sept. 13 matchup against the Miami Dolphins and ends a six-year streak of first-overall picks starting in Week 1.
Why Cousins won the job
The Raiders signed Cousins to a five-year contract in April, and Kubiak’s decision reflects the veteran’s command of the offense coming out of training camp. Cousins received the bulk of first-team work during the preseason and produced efficient numbers in limited action: he completed 13 of 17 passes for 101 yards and a touchdown across two appearances, New York Post reporting noted.
Coaches emphasized continuity as a factor. Cousins’ familiarity with the system gave Kubiak an option to run more of his offense immediately while the club sorts through protection and pass‑catching questions that surfaced during the preseason.
What this means for Fernando Mendoza
Fernando Mendoza, the first-overall pick in the 2026 draft, will open the season on the bench. Mendoza’s preseason work included 25 completions on 45 attempts for 240 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions, per New York Post. The move breaks a recent pattern: Mendoza becomes the first No. 1 overall pick in seven drafts who won’t start on opening day, snapping a streak stretching back six selections.
League observers framed the decision as part of a deliberate plan. Bleacher Report described Cousins as a bridge quarterback — a veteran entrusted to stabilize the position before the team hands the reins to Mendoza — and projected that Las Vegas, not expected to contend in the AFC this season, will likely find a window later in the year to give Mendoza regular snaps.
That path would allow Mendoza to develop behind game-ready reps while the Raiders evaluate their offense under live-game conditions, but the timeline for any change at quarterback remains the team’s call.
The Week 1 designation formalizes a plan many saw coming through camp: a veteran starter to oversee the opening stretch and a rookie kept in reserve until the coaching staff determines when to start his NFL innings. How quickly Mendoza receives an extended opportunity will hinge on game results, lineup health and the Raiders’ assessment of his readiness in regular-season play.
