Raiders name Kirk Cousins Week 1 starter

Klint Kubiak ended the Raiders’ quarterback competition on September 2 by naming Kirk Cousins his Week 1 starter. The announcement came after training camp and the preseason, with the coach saying Cousins had “earned it” over rookie Fernando Mendoza and Aidan O’Connell. The decision gives Las Vegas a veteran quarterback for its opener against the Miami Dolphins on September 13. It also delays the regular-season debut of Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 draft. ### Why did Kubiak pick Cousins now? Kubiak said Wednesday that Cousins had “a really good offseason, very good camp and he’s earned it,” according to the Raiders’ official announcement. The coach had declined through camp to publicly settle the competition, keeping Cousins, Mendoza and O’Connell in the mix into the final week before the opener. (raiders.com) The Raiders added Cousins in the offseason after bringing in a quarterback with prior ties to Kubiak. Raiders.com said Cousins enters his 15th NFL season and is a four-time Pro Bowler, giving Las Vegas a veteran option while Mendoza begins his first year in the league. ### Where does Fernando Mendoza stand after the decision? (raiders.com) Fernando Mendoza remains behind Cousins after entering the league as the No. 1 overall pick. ESPN reported that Mendoza will be the first top overall selection not to start in Week 1 since Baker Mayfield, a note that underlines how uncommon the Raiders’ choice is for a quarterback taken first overall. (raiders.com) The Raiders’ official account of the competition said Kubiak had allowed the battle to play out through camp rather than making an early declaration. That left open the possibility of a rookie opening-day starter until the coach’s announcement after practice on September 2. ### How much did experience matter here? Kirk Cousins brings 44,700 passing yards and 298 passing touchdowns, both figures that rank him among the top six active quarterbacks, according to the Raiders’ position breakdown published in July. (espn.com) The team described him there as a “proven veteran” and said his relationship with Kubiak was already established. (raiders.com) Las Vegas also kept Aidan O’Connell in the competition during camp, but Kubiak’s public comments singled out Cousins’ offseason and camp work rather than citing one preseason moment. The team’s announcement framed the decision as the result of the full body of work heading into the regular season. ### Did the opener details change from early reports? (raiders.com) The Raiders’ current schedule lists Week 1 as a home game against Miami at Allegiant Stadium on Sunday, September 13, with kickoff set for 1:25 p.m. Pacific time on FOX. That schedule listing differs from some early summaries that described the opener as a road game. NFL.com’s game page also lists Dolphins at Raiders in Paradise, Nevada, confirming Las Vegas opens the season at home. (raiders.com) The Raiders published the starting-quarterback decision 11 days before that game. ### What happens next for Las Vegas? September 13 is the next date attached to the decision, when Cousins is set to make his first regular-season start for the Raiders against Miami at Allegiant Stadium. (raiders.com) The Raiders’ schedule lists Week 2 as a September 20 road game against the Chargers, with Mendoza positioned to open the season as Cousins’ backup unless Kubiak changes course. (nfl.com)