The Las Vegas Raiders will throw rookie Fernando Mendoza into the preseason fire against Arizona tomorrow night.
Las Vegas Raiders coach Klint Kubiak laid out parts of his plans for tomorrow’s preseason opener against the Arizona Cardinals, and he noted that rookie quarterback and No. 2 overall draft pick Fernando Mendoza will get “plenty of experience in the game,” according to a report from Myles Simmons of Pro Football Talk.
Kirk Cousins will be first up at QB, but he probably won’t last long. The typical formula for starters in preseason games is to get a series or two, and Mendoza is currently listed at No. 2 on the depth chart, so he could be next man up.
“Look forward to seeing him out there with his teammates,” Kubiak said. “A lot of guys we need to evaluate — he’ll get plenty of reps.”
Some of that work could happen with the first-team offensive line, as Mendoza has already gotten some time with the starters when Kirk Cousins sat out practices after a scuffle with defensive end Maxx Crosby. The idea will be to continue the growth Mendoza has shown, which has already impressed Kubiak.
“It’s been a really impressive training camp as far as how he’s prepared,” Kubiak said. “And then he goes out there to practice and things don’t happen on the drawing, on the paper in the playbook exactly as they do on the field. So, I think he’s done a good job of adjusting.
“And with all of our players, we just ask that as they gain experience as they make mistakes, they don’t make the same mistake twice. I think he’s done a good job of that and now it comes to live bullets, with a live pass rush and that will be a whole ‘nother animal.”
That animal will be the pass rush of the Arizona Cardinals, who announced that they’ll be playing their starters in this one. The Cardinals have already had their first taste of game experience after playing in the Hall of Fame game last week, and new coach Mike Lafluer said that starter Jacoby Brissett will get some time in this one.
“They’re going to play, so we’ll have our guys out there,” LaFleur said in a separate report from Simmons. “How much? It’s not going to be much. It could be one drive, max of two for those main guys. But they’ll be playing, and they know that.”
The writer also noted that it will also be the first chance for running back Jeremiyah Love, the No. 3 overall pick in this year’s draft, to get some preseason playing time.
