Raiders HC Klint Kubiak Drops Update On Starting QB Battle After Fernando Mendoza’s Stellar NFL Debut — Fans Aren’t Going To Like It One Bit

This article was originally published on Total Pro Sports.

Las Vegas Raiders fans got their first look at Fernando Mendoza on Thursday night.

The No. 1 overall pick delivered a promising debut against the Arizona Cardinals. However, head coach Klint Kubiak made one thing clear afterward.

Kirk Cousins opened the preseason game at Allegiant Stadium. He immediately led a touchdown drive and connected with Michael Mayer for a score.

Cousins completed five of six passes for 50 yards and a touchdown. Mendoza then entered and delivered his own touchdown pass to Jack Bech.

Mendoza completed 10 of 16 passes for 97 yards. He also led four drives and showed enough poise to keep the quarterback competition interesting.

Yet Kubiak’s postgame comments will not thrill those hoping to see Mendoza start immediately.

Klint Kubiak Still Has Kirk Cousins In Front

Kubiak refused to name his Week 1 starter outright. However, he made the current pecking order unmistakable.

“Kirk’s been given the reps with the ones,” Kubiak said, per ESPN. “I think he’s had a solid training camp, and it’s his job to lose.”

That statement follows Kubiak’s earlier decision to open training camp with Cousins as his first-team quarterback. The coach previously said Cousins had earned those reps with strong play.

The veteran, therefore, remains in control despite Mendoza’s encouraging debut.

Cousins’ performance also gave Kubiak little reason to change course. He completed 83.3 percent of his throws and finished his brief appearance without a turnover.

Still, Mendoza’s performance created more intrigue around a competition that could define Las Vegas’ season.

Fernando Mendoza Continues To Push The Veteran

Kubiak praised Mendoza’s command of his offense during his first NFL preseason appearance.

“I thought he led a good scoring drive,” the coach said. “As far as getting in and out of the huddle and commanding the group and getting the play calls down, I saw the same guy that we’ve seen in practice.”

“I see an ascending player; we just got to keep getting better,” he added.

That assessment matches what the Raiders have seen during training camp. Mendoza impressed coaches with his command and quick decision-making during his early work with the second unit.

The rookie will get another opportunity to close the gap when Las Vegas faces Houston next week.

For now, however, Cousins remains the favorite to start when the Raiders open their regular season against Miami on September 13.

The Raiders ultimately lost 27-14 to Arizona, but the quarterback battle provided the more important storyline.