Raiders QB Fernando Mendoza makes solid NFL debut in garbage time against Patriots, but Kirk Cousins' starting job is safe for now

With Sunday's game long lost, the Las Vegas Raiders decided to get their first real NFL look at rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza.

The No. 1 overall pick out of Indiana took over to lead the Raiders' offense on their final drive of Sunday's 45-17 loss to the New England Patriots . He was able to move the ball on a low-stakes possession that ultimately fell short of producing points.

His first NFL snap produced a handoff for a 3-yard gain from the Las Vegas 35-yard line. But head coach Klint Kubiak and offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko gave him a chance to show his stuff against a real, live NFL defense from there.

Mendoza's first NFL pass was a check down to running back Dylan Laube, followed by a third-down pass past the sticks to tight end Ian Thomas for a first down.

His next pass was perhaps his best. Mendoza went through his progressions as the Patriots dropped seven in coverage and found receiver Tre Tucker in a soft spot in New England's zone for a 16-yard gain on first-and-10 from midfield.

He ultimately completed his first five NFL passes to move the Raiders into the red zone. He escaped pressure on his fifth pass to successfully find Laube again for a first down to the New England 20.

On fourth-and-5 at the New England 14, there was no need to kick a meaningless field goal. The Raiders went for it.

The Patriots brought pressure with an eight-man blitz, and Mendoza found himself under duress. He scrambled to his right and was tackled just short of the line to gain, and his first NFL drive ended with a turnover on downs.

Mendoza finished his first NFL drive completing 6-of-8 passes for 48 yards. The possession didn't produce a score, but he looked poised and in command of an NFL offense that drove down the field against a Patriots defense that was playing to avoid allowing the big play.

When will Mendoza take over Raiders offense?

After the game, head coach Klint Kubiak verified what was suspected in his decision to bring Mendoza in late for starter Kirk Cousins. Cousins' job, for now, is not at risk. He's still QB 1 .

"I wanted to get him some exposure," Kubiak told reporters of playing Mendoza.

"He did a good job," Kubiak said , per the Las Vegas Review Journal. "Yeah, he did a good job. All reps are valuable. Very important for him."

Mendoza's status for 2026 was one of the biggest questions entering the NFL season. Kubiak made clear from the start of training camp that Cousins was the starter and there would be no competition for the job.

But Mendoza's status as the team's starter is a matter of when, not if, leading to speculation over when he'd get his chance to take over. A 3-0 start under Cousins suggested that he might learn from the bench his entire rookie season.

Two straight losses haven't threatened Cousins' status as the starter for now. But if they start to pile up, the calls to play Mendoza will surely start to grow.