Cousins’ Preseason Dominance Over Mendoza Leaves Raiders Coach Kubiak Tight-Lipped on Starter Decision

Kirk Cousins delivered a masterclass during the Las Vegas Raiders’ preseason slate, significantly outperforming first-round draft pick Fernando Mendoza in competitive action. Despite the stark statistical disparity and evident superiority on the field, head coach Klint Kubiak has declined to formally announce his starting quarterback for the September 13, 2025 regular-season matchup against the Miami Dolphins.

Kubiak deflected questions about the starter designation following Thursday’s loss to the San Francisco 49ers, stating he sees no immediate need to make the announcement public. The first-year Raiders coach framed his reluctance as a motivational strategy, previously explaining that he prefers keeping all players uncertain about their roster standing rather than allowing anyone to become complacent.

Cousins’ statistical performance painted an undeniable picture of readiness. He completed 8 of 11 passes during limited first-quarter action Thursday, finishing the preseason with a 13-for-17 completion rate for 101 yards and one touchdown. His 110.2 passer rating marked the best preseason efficiency by a Raiders quarterback since 2017 among qualifiers with at least 17 attempts.

Mendoza, conversely, struggled through the exhibition schedule with inconsistent play and two interceptions across consecutive games. The rookie completed just 5 of 9 passes Thursday, marking the second straight week his completion percentage hovered barely above 50 percent. Even the draft prospect acknowledged Cousins’ superior performance during his own postgame comments.

Kubiak’s stated reasoning—that Mendoza requires additional preseason reps to develop—contradicts the structural reality of NFL team operations. Once regular-season practices commence, established starting quarterbacks receive the bulk of practice repetitions while backups work with limited snaps, precisely the arrangement Kubiak indicated awaits Mendoza.