Raiders name Kirk Cousins Week 1 starter

Klint Kubiak ended the Raiders’ quarterback suspense on Wednesday by naming Kirk Cousins the starter for Las Vegas’ regular-season opener against the Miami Dolphins. The decision puts the 15-year veteran ahead of Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 draft, after a preseason in which Cousins handled most of the first-team work. The Raiders announced the move after practice, and Kubiak said Cousins “earned it” through his offseason and training camp work. The opener is scheduled for Sept. 13 in Las Vegas. ### Why did the Raiders choose Cousins over Fernando Mendoza? Kubiak said Wednesday that Cousins had “a really good offseason, a very good camp, and he’s earned it,” according to the team and the Associated Press. The coach had declined through training camp to publicly name a starter while Cousins, Mendoza and Aidan O’Connell all took part in the competition. The preseason usage pointed strongly in Cousins’ direction. AP reported that Cousins ran the first-team offense nearly the entire preseason, while Mendoza worked mostly with the second unit. The Raiders also kept three quarterbacks on the roster, with O’Connell returning for his fourth season. ### How unusual is it for a No. 1 pick to sit in Week 1? (raiders.com) ESPN reported that Mendoza would become the first quarterback drafted No. 1 overall not to start in Week 1 since Baker Mayfield. That gives the Raiders’ decision a broader league context beyond a standard veteran-rookie depth-chart call. AP described the move as expected after the way the summer unfolded. (abcnews.com) Mendoza, a Heisman Trophy winner who also led Indiana to a national championship, showed flashes in camp and preseason, AP reported, but also the inconsistency of a player who has not taken an NFL regular-season snap. ### What did the Raiders pay for this setup? (espn.com) AP reported that Las Vegas signed Cousins to a two-year deal with $20 million in guaranteed money. AP also said Cousins’ previous team, the Atlanta Falcons, remains responsible for $8.7 million of his 2026 pay. The Raiders did not bring Cousins in only as a mentor, AP reported. (abcnews.com) Kubiak has familiarity with Cousins in his system, and the veteran’s presence gives Las Vegas an experienced starter while the club develops Mendoza behind him. ### What kind of player are the Raiders starting? Cousins enters his 15th NFL season with 167 career starts, 44,700 passing yards, 298 touchdown passes and 88 wins, according to the Raiders. (abcnews.com) The team said he completed 76.5% of his passes for 101 yards and one touchdown in two preseason appearances. AP said Cousins is 88-77-2 as a starter across stops with Washington, Minnesota and Atlanta. (abcnews.com) His best single season came in 2022, when he led the Vikings to a 13-4 record. ### What happens with Mendoza now? Kubiak said the Raiders will use practice and scout-team work to keep Mendoza progressing while Cousins takes the first-team repetitions. “We’re just trying to find every edge we can find to continue to get him better and his teammates better,” Kubiak said, according to AP. (raiders.com) (abcnews.com) When asked whether Mendoza would play this season, Kubiak did not offer a timetable. “We’ll get to Miami first,” he said, according to AP. ### Who’s next on the schedule? The Raiders open the season at home against the Dolphins on Sept. 13. AP also reported that running back Ashton Jeanty, who was injured in practice on Aug. 23, could be available for that game, with Kubiak saying he was optimistic. (abcnews.com)