Las Vegas Raiders quarterback made his NFL debut last night, and the results were uneven, with some positive moments.
Las Vegas Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza made his NFL debut in the team’s preseason opener last night against the Arizona Cardinals, and it turned out to be an uneven affair, according to Ryan McFadden of ESPN.
There were times when Mendoza looked like he was adjusting to the speed of the NFL game, according to the writer, and other times where he looked like the future of the organization.
But coach Klint Kubiak has a slightly different perspective. He’s been working with Mendoza since the day the Raiders drafted him, and he sees a player on the rise.
"I see an ascending player," Kubiak said after the game. "We just got to keep getting better."
Mendoza led four drives and went 10-for-16 for 97 yards and a touchdown. He’s the first No. 1 pick in the draft to throw a touchdown pass in his preseason debut since Baker Mayfield turned the trick back in 2018.
Mendoza missed some throws and some reads, and he was quick to self-criticize, however.
"It showed me that I need to grow a lot," Mendoza said. "... I'm definitely [watching the game film] after this. I have nothing else to do tonight."
The rookie had a tough act to follow as veteran Kirk Cousins led the Raiders on an opening touchdown drive, and Mendoza went three-and-out on his first drive with a pair of incompletions.
The second time around was better, however, as he completed a 19-yarder to Malik Benson, and a 53-yard run from rookie running back Mike Washington Jr. set up Mendoza’s first career touchdown pass to Jack Bech as the six-yard toss tied the score at 14-14 in the second quarter.
"[I] look at the next play as a new opportunity because that's the only one that matters, and that's how you bounce back from adversity," Mendoza said.
His third drive was another three-and-out, but Mendoza’s final effort included four completions for 44 yards as he put the Raiders in field goal range for a missed attempt from kicker Kansei Matzuzawa.
Benson’s been establishing a connection with Mendoza, and he enjoyed playing with his fellow rookie.
"I just love his operation," Benson said of Mendoza. "The clear communication, the huddle. He's very confident. But obviously, there's a lot of work that all of us as a team [have] to do."
Kubiak also commented after the game that Cousins remains the starter, saying “it’s his job to lose,” but the Raiders have to be happy with most of what they saw from Mendoza last night.
