Raiders HC Talks Possibility of Starting Fernando Mendoza, Benching Kirk Cousins After Rams Loss

After a 3-0 start to the season, the Las Vegas Raiders have dropped their last four and are ready to consider any necessary changes.

Even benching Kirk Cousins for rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza.

"I think at this point, we're thinking about everything," head coach Klint Kubiak said after Sunday's loss to the Los Angeles Rams. "How to fix our problems, how to fix our issues in the red zone, in the third quarter. Personnel, scheme, we've got to talk about all of it."

Despite the Raiders' struggles, Cousins has been mostly solid under center, throwing for 1,877 yards, 16 touchdowns and five interceptions. His passing touchdown total leads the NFL.

Cousins threw for 295 yards and a pair of scores in Sunday's loss to the Rams. The Raiders would have liked to see him be a bit more effecient and capitalize on red zone opportunities more, but he at least didn't have any egregious errors.

Las Vegas' main issue has been on defense, as it has given up 30, 45, 33 and 35 points in its last four games, respectively. That will surely be something to address in the coming weeks as the Raiders try to turn things around.

Still, it could be worth giving Mendoza a shot, especially since the Raiders are still in a rebuilding phase.

Mendoza, the top pick in the 2026 NFL draft out of Indiana, came in for Cousins at the end of the Raiders' Week 5 loss to the New England Patriots and threw for 48 yards on 6-of-8 passes.

Las Vegas drafted Mendoza, hoping he'd be the franchise quarterback for years to come, but the original plan was to let Cousins take the reins this year before potentially giving Mendoza a shot next year.

Whether Kubiak has decided to change the course of action and go with Mendoza this year remains to be seen.

The Raiders will face the New York Jets, one of the league's top passing defenses, next week, so it would be a tough first test for the young player.