Fernando Mendoza made his NFL debut Thursday night in the first game of the preseason for the Las Vegas Raiders. The No. 1 overall pick tossed a touchdown pass in the loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
LAS VEGAS — Brace yourselves Raider Nation, the future looks bright.
Fernando Mendoza led one touchdown drive for the Las Vegas Raiders, and by the time he was relieved from his professional debut with 12:33 left in the fourth quarter, he completed 10 of 16 passes for 96 yards, one score and a 100 passer rating during Thursday night’s 27-14 preseason loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
“I thought he led a good scoring drive as far as getting in and out of the huddle and commanding the group and getting the play calls down,” said Raiders coach Klint Kubiak, who was also making his head coaching debut. “I saw the same guy that we’ve seen in practice. I see an ascending player, and we just got to keep getting better.”
That said, Kubiak and general manager John Spytek‘s notion to not rush the rookie signal-caller into the starting lineup is probably a smart move, as there were some grimacing moments while watching him work behind mismatched lines
Mendoza Works Behind Reserve OL In Debut
Operating with mostly reserve offensive linemen, his scoring drive did include returning third-year lineman Jackson Powers-Johnson. It was one of four drives that included the future of the franchise taking some shots from eager Cardinals defenders looking to dole out some punishment.
The former third-stringer at Cal turned national champion at Indiana could’ve had one or two more drives, but the Raiders’ defense left plenty to be desired and couldn’t get off the field.
Though both teams had nine drives, the Cardinals held the ball for 34:25, compared to the Raiders’ time of possession of 25:35.
Sounding and looking more like a kid after playing in a high-school state championship rather than his NFL debut, the Heisman Trophy winner was all smiles afterward.
“It was an invigorating experience,” he said. “There’s not many moments where you feel fully alive, and on the field is when you feel fully alive.
“Especially in the NFL atmosphere.”
TD No. 1 for the No. 1 pick 👀
Fernando Mendoza connects with Jack Bech for his first touchdown in a #Raiders uniform 🎯 #RaiderNation pic.twitter.com/skXW20KXpI
— Taylor Rocha (@TaylorRochaTV) August 14, 2026
Mr. Brady
The last time Mendoza stepped on a field in competition, before Thursday, he was leading Indiana to a national championship in front of more than 67,000 people in Miami. And while the announced crowd for his pro debut was 61,683, there was hardly that in the stands.
That didn’t mean the starry-eyed 22-year-old’s nerve ends weren’t tingling leading up to the moment he relieved veteran Kirk Cousins, who Kubiak reiterated is the starting quarterback until he loses the job.
Mendoza had plenty of resources to lean on if he needed to work out any jitters leading up to the biggest night of his life. From Cousins to second-year running back Ashton Jeanty to defensive captain Maxx Crosby to an impassioned coaching staff.
But when the man labeled the GOAT is a co-owner of the team, you don’t necessarily need any more inspiration than that. When Tom Brady spoke to the team Wednesday night, reality, along with a sense of calmness, settled in.
Raiders QB Fernando Mendoza says “I let my teammates down.” Despite a very solid pre season debut.
🎥: By @Sean_Zittel, Vegas Sports Today pic.twitter.com/h5OWjezF5I
— Vegas Sports Today (@VegasSportsTD) August 14, 2026
“I believe that confidence is always a big part in how you play, especially whether you’re an athlete, artist, performer, or in everyday life,” Mendoza said. “Confidence is a big aspect in your eventual performance. And one of the sources of confidence is prior experience. So I have leaned on that in the past.
“However, Mr. Brady was able to talk to our team last night, and he said, ‘No matter how good of a high school or college player you were – the NFL is a different level.’ I felt that tonight, and I have a lot to grow from.”
Time To Grow
There were no interceptions, but Mendoza said the number one thing he’ll prioritize is to always protect the ball. It’s been a big emphasis and the young gun said he, Cousins and Aidan O’Connell added a check mark to the quarterback room with an unblemished turnover chart.
“However, there was a couple reads I missed, and I let some of my teammates down,” Mendoza said. “Whether it was a misthrow or misread or mis-check on some of the plays that I’m going to need to learn and grow from to best serve them in the future, and it’s all about having the composure.”
What he may or may not realize is his ongoing growth at this level was revealed during his 14-minute postgame media availability, as he wasted no time in taking accountability for mistakes veterans like Buffalo’s Josh Allen or Dallas’ Dak Prescott might make.
“Definitely right after this, I have nothing else to do tonight!”
Raiders QB Fernando Mendoza says he’s going to watch film immediately, tonight follows his preseason debut.
🎥: By @Sean_Zittel, Vegas Sports Today pic.twitter.com/SxW52Qfrci
— Vegas Sports Today (@VegasSportsTD) August 14, 2026
Coming off the field on fourth down and realizing he should have made a better play on third down is something every starting quarterback will do during the regular season.
But the Boston-born kid who still looks like he could play at his alma mater Christopher Columbus High School in Miami wants to listen, and mature, and grow, and become the best teammate he possibly can.
Not just an elite quarterback.
Teammate.
“You don’t want to let them down, but at the same time, you understand to be at your best, you have to be composed and have a next-play mentality, and look at the next play as a new opportunity, as a blank slate,” he said. “That’s the only one that matters, and that’s how you control the controllables, and that’s how you bounce back from adversity.
“It’s having the mental fortitude, mental strength and having your teammates believe in you, and you believe in them, in order to get back on track.”
On To The Next
Cousins has his own agenda, as he’ll likely enter the regular season as QB1, and isn’t necessarily in town to hold anyone’s hand. Mentoring here and there, sure. But the 15-year-old veteran knows what he has left in his arm and the fire he holds in his heart.
Nevertheless, the 37-year-old was complimentary of his much younger teammate who was seven when Cousins was a rookie.
“He did a great job,” the four-time Pro Bowl selection said. “Moved the football, scored points, gave us a chance at scoring points, and operated well. I think it’s valuable experience to get out there for all of us and play, and I think he’d say the same thing. That it’s valuable to get out and play. Thought he did a nice job.”
And when it came to the advice he offered, there was absolutely none.
“If anything I don’t wanna get in his way.”
Raiders QB Kirk Cousins what advice he shared (or sometimes opted not to share) with rookie QB Fernando Mendoza during his pre season NFL debut.
🎥: By @Sean_Zittel, Vegas Sports Today pic.twitter.com/oTmE0JjCp8
— Vegas Sports Today (@VegasSportsTD) August 14, 2026
“I just let him be,” Cousins said laughingly. “I don’t pull him aside and say, ‘Hey, you know, come here for my wisdom.’ He’s a pretty smart, mature player and person, and if anything, I don’t want to get in his way. I think he knows what he’s doing and has a good feel, and I don’t want to overload him.”
Mendoza’s next action will be in Houston, where there’s a chance he’ll see time with the starting group up front, which would be helpful considering he could potentially face one of the top defensive units in the league if the Texans put their ones on the field against him.
It would be the best move, as it’s the only way he’s going to learn about the true speed of the NFL as the regular season draws near.
“We want to get him plenty of reps in the preseason,” Kubiak said. “That was important for us to see him get lots of turns, and as these games go on, we’re going to evaluate game to game. But he’s a young man that needs experience and needs reps, and we’re going to give ’em to him.”
W.G. Ramirez is a veteran sports writer from Las Vegas and a Staff Writer at TeamFB7.com. Follow him on X at @WillieGRamirez.
