Raiders name Kirk Cousins starting QB

Klint Kubiak ended the Raiders’ quarterback suspense on Wednesday by naming Kirk Cousins his Week 1 starter for Sunday’s opener against the Miami Dolphins in Las Vegas. The decision puts the 14-year veteran in front of Fernando Mendoza, the rookie quarterback the Raiders selected with the No. 1 overall pick in April. The move had been expected through most of training camp, but it became official only after Kubiak announced it following practice. The Raiders said Cousins will take the first snap of the regular season at Allegiant Stadium. ### Why did the Raiders wait until Wednesday to make the call? Wednesday was the first time Kubiak publicly attached the Week 1 job to Cousins after spending camp declining to name a starter. The Raiders’ official account of the competition said the staff allowed Cousins, Mendoza and Aidan O’Connell to work through camp before settling the job after practice this week. (espn.com) Kubiak said Cousins had “played really good football,” according to UPI’s account of the coach’s news conference in Henderson, Nevada. The coach also said Cousins’ absence from practice earlier Wednesday was planned as a veteran rest day, not an injury issue, according to local and national reports. (raiders.com) ### What does this say about Fernando Mendoza’s timeline? Fernando Mendoza will begin his NFL career as the backup despite arriving as the top pick in the 2026 draft. ESPN reported that makes him the first quarterback selected No. 1 overall not to start Week 1 since Baker Mayfield in 2018, a point echoed in follow-up coverage from Yahoo Sports and Raiders Wire. (upi.com) April’s draft had long linked the Raiders to Mendoza, and Yahoo Sports noted at the time that Las Vegas could choose to delay his debut if the club preferred a veteran opening-week option. Wednesday’s decision confirmed that path. ### Why was Cousins in position to win this job? (espn.com) Kirk Cousins joined Las Vegas on a two-year, $12.6 million deal in April, giving the Raiders an experienced option before Mendoza had taken an NFL snap. UPI said the four-time Pro Bowler entered camp competing for the role and ultimately held off the rookie for the opener. The Athletic described Sunday as Cousins’ first start for his fourth NFL franchise after spending 2025 as a backup in Atlanta. (sports.yahoo.com) The Raiders’ official site said Kubiak had kept the competition open through camp, but Cousins’ experience and steady preseason positioning left him as the expected choice entering the final week before the opener. That expectation was also reflected in ESPN, CBS Sports and local Las Vegas coverage after the announcement. ### Does this close the door on Mendoza this season? (upi.com) Week 1 settles only the opening depth chart. None of the reports on Wednesday said Mendoza’s role was permanent beyond the opener, and the Raiders’ public statements focused on who would start against Miami rather than on a season-long arrangement. (raiders.com) The immediate effect is narrower: Cousins gets the opener, Mendoza waits, and the Raiders begin the season with a veteran quarterback while their rookie develops behind him. That setup is unusual for a No. 1 overall quarterback, but it is the one Las Vegas chose heading into its first regular-season game under Kubiak. (espn.com) ### What happens next on Sunday? Sunday’s opener is set for Allegiant Stadium, where the Raiders host the Dolphins to begin the 2026 regular season. The Raiders’ official announcement and ESPN’s report both identified Miami as Cousins’ first opponent as Las Vegas’ starter. Week 1 will now open with Cousins under center and Mendoza on the sideline, a configuration the Raiders locked in on September 2. (espn.com) The next public marker is the game itself on Sunday, when Kubiak’s first regular-season quarterback decision will be tested against Miami. (raiders.com)