Raiders weigh patient approach with rookie Fernando Mendoza behind Kirk Cousins

As the Las Vegas Raiders finalize preparations for the 2026 season, one of the bigger storylines surrounding the club is not whether veteran Kirk Cousins will open the year under center — that question has already been answered — but how long the team intends to keep first-year quarterback Fernando Mendoza on the bench.

Writing for ESPN, reporter Jeremy Fowler outlined a possible template the Raiders could borrow from the New England Patriots. In 2024, New England turned to Jacoby Brissett as a temporary starter while rookie Drake Maye adjusted to the professional game. Brissett held the job for roughly a month, posting a 1-4 record, before Maye stepped into the starting lineup and the franchise moved forward with its quarterback of the future.

That staggered transition is now being discussed as a realistic option in Las Vegas. Under a similar timeline, Mendoza’s first start would not come until Week 6 — a home date with the Buffalo Bills. Starting the rookie at Allegiant Stadium would carry obvious appeal from a fan-engagement standpoint, and the sequencing matters too: it would give Mendoza one game of experience before a Week 7 meeting with a Los Angeles Rams defense widely regarded as among the league’s most demanding.

The calendar complicates matters beyond that stretch. There is no obvious soft landing spot for a quarterback change in the weeks that follow, with the Raiders’ Week 13 bye standing out as the next natural checkpoint. Waiting until after the bye, however, risks testing the patience of a fan base eager to see the rookie play — unless Cousins is performing at a high level and keeping the team in the win column.

The quarterback question is one of several personnel items on the Raiders’ plate. Tight end Brock Bowers underwent a sudden meniscus procedure that is expected to sideline him for the opening week or two, adding uncertainty at another key position in both the short and long term.

ESPN, where Fowler’s reporting appeared, is part of The Walt Disney Company’s sports portfolio. Shares of The Walt Disney Company (DIS) closed at $104.82, up 0.61% from the prior close of $104.18, valuing the entertainment conglomerate at roughly $181.8 billion. The Sports segment remains a notable piece of the company’s business alongside its Entertainment and Experiences divisions, and coverage of storylines like the Raiders’ quarterback competition feeds directly into the sports-media audience Disney continues to court.

For now, the Raiders have named Cousins the Week 1 starter. Whether the club follows the Patriots’ playbook — a brief bridge period followed by a handoff to the rookie — will depend on early-season results and how quickly Mendoza progresses in practice.

What to watch

• Kirk Cousins’ performance over the season’s first month and the Raiders’ win-loss record during that stretch.
• Whether Mendoza sees game action earlier than a Week 6 target date against Buffalo.
• The status of Brock Bowers’ recovery from meniscus surgery and his availability in the opening weeks.
• Raiders roster and depth-chart updates as the regular season begins.

Source: original release