Kirk Cousins will start the Las Vegas Raiders’ season opener against the Miami Dolphins, first-year coach Klint Kubiak announced Wednesday, making Fernando Mendoza the first No. 1 overall pick at quarterback to not start Week 1 since Baker Mayfield sat behind Tyrod Taylor for the first three games of the 2018 season with the Cleveland Browns.
Kubiak described Cousins as having played really good football throughout training camp and the preseason, saying Cousins earned the starting position. He did not address whether Mendoza is expected to play this season.
The decision was largely expected. Cousins had been taking the majority of first-team reps throughout training camp and has a pre-existing relationship with Kubiak from their time together with the Minnesota Vikings. That familiarity gives the Raiders a chance to be competitive immediately while the rest of the team adjusts to the offensive scheme.
Cousins’ preseason performance
He completed 8 of 11 passes for 51 yards in his second preseason start against the San Francisco 49ers and threw for 50 yards and a touchdown in the preseason opener against the Arizona Cardinals. He did not play in last week’s finale against the Houston Texans.
At 38, he will become the ninth different starting quarterback for the Raiders since the franchise parted ways with Derek Carr near the end of 2022. Kubiak and Cousins will be the Raiders’ fourth different head coach-quarterback combination in four years.
Mendoza’s development
General manager John Spytek said Mendoza’s time is coming but that he has to earn it every day. He described the coaching staff as very pleased with the reigning Heisman Trophy winner’s work ethic and commitment to developing as a quarterback.
Mendoza worked primarily with the second-team offense throughout training camp but received two stints of first-team reps. His improvement in the offense was noticeable at times in three preseason appearances. He completed 18 of 31 passes for 181 yards, a touchdown and one pick-six. His final preseason game against San Francisco was his weakest, finishing 7 of 14 for 57 yards with an interception and a passer rating of 31.
The Raiders’ plan before drafting Mendoza was always to let him develop before handing him the starting job, which is why the Raiders signed him in April shortly after his release from the Atlanta Falcons.
Cousins’ recent history
He started 22 of 24 games during two seasons in Atlanta. He had come to the Falcons after tearing his Achilles with the Vikings in 2023. He led Atlanta to a 6-3 start in 2024 before an arm injury derailed his performance, throwing nine interceptions over a five-game stretch before being benched in Week 16 in favor of Michael Penix Jr.
In his final season with Atlanta, he completed 61.7 percent of his passes for 1,721 yards, 10 touchdowns and 5 interceptions. His 47.6 QBR placed him 22nd in the league, tied with Carolina’s Bryce Young.
Las Vegas opens the season at home against Miami.
