Should get plenty of reps
Raiders coach Klint Kubiak said Tuesday that Mendoza will play in Thursday's preseason opener against Arizona and may even get a few snaps with the starting offensive line, Ryan McFadden of ESPN.com reports.
It sounds like Kirk Cousins will make the start, but Mendoza could enter the game fairly early on, and he's expected to play a lot this preseason (if not necessarily Thursday night). Kubiak hasn't announced his Week 1 starter, but Cousins has been treated as the starter throughout training camp by all accounts.
More Las Vegas Raiders Fantasy Football News
Ronnie Bell
Goes to Raiders' practice squad
Las Vegas signed Bell to its practice squad Thursday, Adam Schefter of ESPN reports.
Brock Bowers
Working with Cousins to open season
Bowers will open the 2026 season working with Kirk Cousins as his quarterback after the veteran was named the Week 1 starter Wednesday, Ryan McFadden of ESPN.com reports.
Fernando Mendoza
Opening season as QB2
With coach Klint Kubiak naming Kirk Cousins the Raiders' starting quarterback Wednesday, Mendoza will open the season as the backup, Sam Warren of The Athletic reports.
Ashton Jeanty
Optimism for Week 1
Coach Klint Kubiak expressed optimism Wednesday that Jeanty (ankle) will be ready for Week 1 against the Dolphins, Adam Hill of the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports.
Kirk Cousins
Named starting quarterback
Coach Klint Kubiak named Cousins the Raiders' starting quarterback Wednesday, Sam Warren of The Athletic reports.
Ashton Jeanty
Remains sidelined Wednesday
Jeanty (ankle) remained sidelined at practice Wednesday, Ryan McFadden of ESPN.com reports.
Ashton Jeanty
Working with trainers Tuesday
Jeanty (ankle) is working off to the side during Tuesday's practice, Sam Warren of The Athletic reports.
Ashton Jeanty
Not spotted Tuesday
Jeanty (ankle) was not spotted at Tuesday's practice, Sam Warren of The Athletic reports.
Dont'e Thornton Jr.
Sent to injured reserve
The Raiders placed Thornton (undisclosed) on injured reserve Monday.
Dare Ogunbowale
Released by Raiders
Ogunbowale was released by Las Vegas on Sunday, Tom Pelissero of NFL Network reports.
