Preseason Football Excitement for Raiders Fans

Preseason football might not be the most thrilling spectacle to watch, but Las Vegas Raiders fans are definitely gearing up for Thursday night’s matchup against the Arizona Cardinals.

Fernando Mendoza, the first overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft and the team’s future star quarterback, is set to make his debut in an actual game.

Head coach Clint Kubiak expressed that Mendoza is bound to obtain “a wealth of experience in the game,” marking an important moment as he prepares to guide the Raiders from the sidelines.

Kubiak, who recently celebrated a Super Bowl win with the Seattle Seahawks as their offensive coordinator, aims to steer the Raiders back into playoff contention in his inaugural season. While veteran Kirk Cousins is currently slated to start during training camp, the organization’s hopes hinge on developing Mendoza into the franchise quarterback they envision.

“I’m really looking forward to playing with my teammates,” Kubiak mentioned. He added that there are many players to evaluate, but Mendoza is expected to see significant playing time.

Though Cousins joined the team as a free agent, Kubiak has indicated a preference for giving him the starting role before making Mendoza the primary quarterback.

That said, Mendoza’s performance during the preseason is likely to shine a light on Kubiak and how swiftly he adapts to the offense and meshes with his new team.

However, starting Cousins means he will be the first quarterback to take the field for the Raiders. After that, Mendoza, along with Aidan O’Connell, will take turns at quarterback.

Just because Cousins is the initial starter doesn’t preclude Kubiak from changing course—if Mendoza dazzles during the preseason, Kubiak might decide he’s ready for regular-season action.

Mendoza’s expectations are exceedingly high, and fans will be anticipating quick execution, even if this game doesn’t officially count towards the 2026 roster.