Raiders' Fernando Mendoza Explains Wearing Helmet on Sideline While Backing Up Cousins in Week 1

Some fans may have found it a little odd to see Las Vegas Raiders rookie Fernando Mendoza wearing a helmet on the sideline as the backup quarterback, but there was a very practical purpose.

Mendoza told The Athletic's Sam Warren he wanted to hear the communication between coaches and starting QB Kirk Cousins.

"Wearing the helmet is pretty crucial because that's where the play calls come in through, and that's the microphone you hear from the speaker," he said. "When I wear the helmet, I can (experience) what I would actually see on the field."

Somewhat curiously, the No. 1 overall pick said nobody on the Raiders offered to give him a headset or earpiece, which is how backups typically stay engaged.

Even if they had, Mendoza may have preferred the helmet anyway. Warren wrote he's "a firm believer in verbalization" and visualizing what he'd do in a certain situation when watching from afar. He's not sitting idly by as Cousins runs the offense.

"Mendoza says his process observing Cousins on game days is the same as during walkthroughs and practices," per Warren. "He simultaneously mimics Cousins' every action, hearing and saying the play call, then making mock decisions about his throwing progression on passing plays. He even breaks the huddle — a huddle of one — after relaying [coach Klint] Kubiak's call to imaginary teammates."

Mendoza is going to start for the Raiders eventually, and it may happen at some point this season. Whenever the change happens, Kubiak won't have to worry about whether the first-year signal-caller is ready for the promotion.