Raiders name Kirk Cousins Week 1

Kirk Cousins will open the season as the Las Vegas Raiders’ starting quarterback after coach Klint Kubiak ended the team’s training-camp competition on Wednesday. Kubiak said Cousins had “earned it” after an offseason and preseason in which the veteran handled most of the first-team work. (espn.com) The decision pushes back the debut of rookie Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 draft. Las Vegas opens at home against the Miami Dolphins on Sept. 13. ### Why did the Raiders go with Cousins now? Wednesday’s announcement followed weeks in which Kubiak declined to publicly name a starter while Cousins continued to run the first-team offense. (usnews.com) The Raiders said the decision came after practice, and the club’s official account of the move said Kubiak had allowed competition through training camp before settling on Cousins heading into Week 1. Kubiak said Cousins “played really good football” and said he was “really happy with all three of our quarterbacks.” Fox Sports, Yahoo Sports and the Raiders’ team site all carried versions of Kubiak’s explanation that Cousins had a strong offseason and camp and had earned the job. (espn.com) ### What happened to Fernando Mendoza’s path to Week 1? Fernando Mendoza worked mostly with the second unit through the preseason while Cousins handled nearly all of the first-team offense, according to the Associated Press account carried by U.S. News and other outlets. The Raiders kept three quarterbacks, with Aidan O’Connell also on the roster entering his fourth season. (raiders.com) ESPN reported the choice is notable because Mendoza would become the first quarterback drafted No. 1 overall not to start in Week 1 since Baker Mayfield in 2018. That comparison puts the Raiders’ decision in a recent draft-era context, but the reporting around camp showed Cousins had been the favorite as Mendoza adjusted to the NFL. (foxsports.com) ### How much of a surprise was this? AP described the move as expected, and multiple reports said Cousins had taken the clear lead through camp. The Las Vegas Sun called the announcement the Raiders’ “worst-kept secret,” while USA Today said the decision had been much anticipated. (usnews.com) Cousins also started two of the Raiders’ three preseason games, while Mendoza started the second exhibition and appeared in all three, according to Fox Sports. That usage matched the broader pattern seen in practice reps and preseason planning. (espn.com) ### What does this say about the Raiders’ quarterback room? Kirk Cousins joined Las Vegas as a veteran option after spending the previous two seasons with the Atlanta Falcons, UPI reported. The Raiders’ choice gives first-year coach Kubiak an experienced starter for the opener while keeping Mendoza in development behind him. (usnews.com) Aidan O’Connell remains part of the room as the third quarterback, according to AP. Kubiak’s public comments emphasized all three passers rather than framing the decision as a permanent shutdown of competition. (foxsports.com) ### What happens next for Las Vegas? Sept. 13 is the next key date for the Raiders, who open the regular season at home against the Dolphins in Las Vegas. Cousins is set to take the first snap, while Mendoza’s first regular-season start will wait beyond Week 1 unless the depth chart changes before kickoff. (usnews.com) (cenlanow.com) (upi.com)