Yahoo Sports NFL on Fernando Mendoza
From the article
Fernando Mendoza replaced Kirk Cousins as the Raiders' quarterback with Las Vegas losing 45-17 to the Patriots with about six minutes left in the fourth quarter. Mendoza went 6-of-8 for 48 yards... Head coach Klint Kubiak said the rookie did a good job in his brief appearance, but that there's no thought of a lasting change at quarterback right now.
STACKED’s take
Mendoza gets regular season snaps in blowout loss; Kubiak sees no immediate QB change.
The 2026 first overall pick made his regular season debut in Week 4, entering with the Raiders trailing 45-17 against the Patriots with about six minutes remaining in the fourth quarter. Mendoza completed 6-of-8 passes for 48 yards in his brief appearance. Head coach Klint Kubiak stated the rookie performed well in his limited snaps and emphasized there is no immediate plan to make a lasting quarterback change, though Kubiak inserted Mendoza specifically to "get him some exposure" to regular season football. Mendoza acknowledged the value of the experience, saying "it is good to have some regular-season snaps to go off, evaluate and get better from. So, if in the future I am called upon, I have at least a little bit of experience rather than none." With the Raiders having lost two straight after a 3-0 start and facing the Bills, Rams, 49ers, and Seahawks in four of their next five games, a prolonged losing streak could increase the likelihood of a more permanent quarterback change.
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