Las Vegas Raiders fans welcomed Fernando Mendoza with an ovation before he even got under center Thursday, and the No. 1 overall pick repaid the Allegiant Stadium crowd with a promising preseason debut in a 27-14 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
Mendoza needed only two drives to find the end zone, throwing a six-yard pass to Jack Bech for his first preseason touchdown. It capped a 10-play, 79-yard drive that was fueled by rookie running back Mike Washington Jr.’s 53-yard run.
The Indiana product entered the game in the first quarter and played five series, including a one-play kneel before halftime, before exiting in the fourth. Mendoza finished the night 10-for-16 for 97 yards, a touchdown, and no interceptions. He was also sacked once.
His first preseason completion moved the chains on third down, though the drive resulted in a punt. Mendoza also led a 10-play, 47-yard effort on his final series that ended with a missed field goal.
“I see an ascending player. We just got to keep getting better,” first-year head coach Klint Kubiak said of the rookie passer, according to ESPN’s Ryan McFadden.
Mendoza took over for Kirk Cousins, who engineered a touchdown drive on the game’s opening series. The 37-year-old marched the Raiders down the field in quick order, completing five of six passes for 50 yards and a score.
Aidan O’Connell took over after Mendoza, completing four of 13 attempts for 85 yards.
Las Vegas has opted to take a patient approach with Mendoza, who captured the Heisman Trophy and led the Hoosiers to a national title during his final college season. Kubiak announced in July that Cousins would be the team’s starting quarterback.
Kubiak reiterated that it’s Cousins’ job to lose postgame Thursday, according to team reporter Levi Edwards.
The Raiders continue their preseason with a road matchup against the Houston Texans on Aug. 20.
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