Raiders Name Kirk Cousins Starting Quarterback Over Fernando Mendoza

The Las Vegas Raiders are choosing the veteran over the rookie. Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak announced on Wednesday morning that Kirk Cousins will be the team’s starting quarterback to open the 2026 regular season, beating out No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza for the starting job. “He played really good football,” Kubiak said about naming Cousins the starter. “I’m really happy with all three of our quarterbacks. Kirk’s had a really good offseason, very good camp and he’s earned it.” Cousins, a four-time Pro Bowler, started the Raiders’ Week 1 and 3 preseason games, with Mendoza starting their Week 2 preseason tilt and playing in each of their three games. Cousins combined to throw 101 passing yards, one passing touchdown and zero interceptions over two games, while completing 76.4% of his passes (13 of 17). Over the three games Mendoza appeared in, the 2025 Heisman Trophy winner totaled 240 passing yards, one passing touchdown and two interceptions, while completing 55.5% of his passes (25 of 45). The 38-year-old Cousins signed a two-year, $12.6 million deal with the Raiders in April after spending the last two seasons with the Atlanta Falcons (2024-25). After being benched for the final three games of 2024, Cousins became Atlanta’s starting quarterback again when starter Michael Penix Jr. suffered a torn ACL in November of last season. Across the eight starts and 10 appearances altogether that Cousins made in 2025, he totaled 1,721 passing yards, 10 passing touchdowns, five interceptions and an 84.8 passer rating, while completing 61.7% of his passes. The Raiders open the regular season at home against the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 13.