The Las Vegas Raiders have officially named veteran Kirk Cousins their starting quarterback for Week 1, delaying rookie Fernando Mendoza’s professional debut. Head coach Klint Kubiak announced the decision on Wednesday morning, locking in the 38-year-old signal-caller to lead the offense against the Miami Dolphins.
Cousins enters his 15th NFL season after signing a one-year deal with the franchise earlier this year. Kubiak praised Cousins during Wednesday’s announcement, noting that the veteran played strong football throughout the summer.
“Kirk’s had a really good offseason, very good camp and he’s earned it,” Kubiak said, according to team reports.
The choice establishes Cousins as the starter for his fourth NFL team. Last season with the Atlanta Falcons, Cousins went 5-3 as a starter, throwing for 1,721 yards with 10 touchdowns and five interceptions. While Kubiak left the door open during parts of the preseason, declining to immediately name a Week 1 starter, Cousins ultimately seized the job.
For Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, the backup role provides a steadier runway to adjust to the speed of the professional game. Mendoza arrived in Las Vegas following a historic college run at Indiana, where he led the Hoosiers to an undefeated season and a national championship win over Miami. His stellar campaign culminated in a Heisman Trophy after he threw for 3,535 yards, 41 touchdowns, and just six interceptions.
Despite his collegiate accolades, Mendoza experienced some growing pains during the preseason. He threw an early interception in a loss to the Houston Texans and added another pick on his second play during the preseason finale against the San Francisco 49ers, finishing that contest 7-of-14 for 57 yards.
“[Mendoza] needs another three preseason games,” Kubiak told ESPN after the San Francisco loss. “All those rookies do, and now that the season’s starting, the practice reps get smaller, and that’s just life. But as coaches, we’ve got to get them ready to play, keep developing them.”
Schedule Outlook and Roster Strategy
The Raiders open the 2026 regular season with a favorable early schedule that should benefit a veteran manager like Cousins. Las Vegas faces the Miami Dolphins in Week 1, followed by a matchup against the New Orleans Saints. Both contests present winnable opportunities before the schedule tightens in Weeks 5 and 6 with games against the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills. Furthermore, the Raiders do not have a bye week until Week 13.
Coaching Stability and Mentorship
For Kubiak, embarking on his first season as head coach of the Raiders, stabilizing the offense with a proven veteran is a calculated approach. The coaching staff intends to use Cousins as both a starter and a mentor, allowing Mendoza to absorb the playbook from the sideline rather than absorbing immediate hits behind an evolving line.
The franchise has not announced a timeline for Mendoza’s eventual promotion, emphasizing that the rookie’s development remains the top priority. For now, the team prepares for Sunday’s opener with Cousins under center.
The Raiders kick off their regular season against the Miami Dolphins. Fans looking to follow live updates can check the team’s official site or tune into local broadcast networks for kickoff coverage.
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