The Las Vegas Raiders will start rookie Fernando Mendoza at quarterback this Sunday against the Seattle Seahawks.
The move follows the team’s decision to trade veteran Kirk Cousins to the Minnesota Vikings, according to reports from Adam Schefter and Ian Rapoport.
The Raiders sent the 38-year-old Cousins to Minnesota just before the NFL trade deadline on Tuesday. In exchange, Las Vegas received a third-round draft pick.
Mendoza, the number one overall selection in the 2026 NFL Draft, takes over a Raiders offense that currently ranks eighth in the league with an average of 26.4 points per game. The team opened the season with three wins but has since struggled, losing five of its last six contests.
Head coach Klint Kubiak confirmed following a Week 7 loss to the Los Angeles Rams that he intended to evaluate the entire roster, specifically noting the quarterback position. Kubiak maintained his support for Cousins for two additional games before finalizing the transition to the rookie. During his tenure this season, Cousins recorded 2,340 passing yards, 20 touchdowns, and eight interceptions across nine appearances.
Mendoza’s promotion marks his first opportunity as a starter in the NFL. He previously saw action during a Week 5 loss to the New England Patriots, completing six of eight pass attempts for 48 yards.
During the preseason, Mendoza threw one touchdown and two interceptions. His collegiate career at Indiana concluded with an undefeated national championship season, during which he earned the Heisman Trophy.
The rookie quarterback faces a difficult initiation into the starting role. The Seattle Seahawks enter the matchup with a defense allowing an average of 244.2 yards per game, statistically the best in the NFL.
Following the game against Seattle, the Raiders are scheduled to play the Denver Broncos in Week 11 and the Cleveland Browns in Week 12. The team will have a bye in Week 13.
