The Las Vegas Raiders were preparing to hand Fernando Mendoza the starting quarterback job within weeks, even if Kirk Cousins had remained with the organization. However, the veteran's trade to the Minnesota Vikings accelerated the rookie's transition to the starting lineup.
Las Vegas had already mapped out a timeline for introducing Mendoza as its starting quarterback, ESPN's Ian Rapoport reported Sunday. The Raiders were ready to turn to the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft on Nov. 29 against the Cleveland Browns if they lost their next two games versus the Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos.
After suffering consecutive defeats, Las Vegas has fallen to 4-5, putting its playoff hopes in jeopardy. Amid those struggles, the team traded Cousins to the Vikings on Tuesday in exchange for a 2027 third-round draft pick, clearing the way for Mendoza to take over earlier than initially planned.
The reigning Heisman Trophy winner will make his first career start Sunday against the Seahawks. Head coach Klint Kubiak has also confirmed that Mendoza will have access to the entire offensive playbook.
The Raiders have been preparing Mendoza for this opportunity since the spring, with quarterbacks coach Mike Sullivan playing an important role in his development. While Cousins handled nearly all the first-team repetitions, Mendoza regularly practiced calling plays, going through his footwork and making pre-snap adjustments alongside Sullivan.
The two also reviewed practice footage after every session, with Mendoza repeating sequences whenever he made mistakes. During games, he observed Cousins from a distance while practicing play calls and checks.
Mendoza also received occasional opportunities with the first-team offense, primarily during rushing drills, although Cousins continued handling almost all the passing repetitions.
Las Vegas has lost five of its last six games after opening the season with three consecutive victories. With Cousins now traded, the Raiders are moving forward with Mendoza under center.