Fernando Mendoza Set for First NFL Start After Kirk Cousins Trade

Fernando Mendoza is set to make his first career NFL start for the Las Vegas Raiders this Sunday.

The former Indiana quarterback and Heisman Trophy winner will lead the team after Las Vegas changed its roster. The Raiders traded veteran Kirk Cousins to the Minnesota Vikings on Tuesday in exchange for a 2027 third-round pick, according to reports from idsnews.com.

The move marks a definitive transition for a Raiders franchise that has spent the first nine weeks of the 2026 season leaning on the experience of the 15-year NFL veteran. While Cousins provided a steady hand, the decision to move him suggests the organization is ready to pivot toward the high-ceiling potential of their top draft selection.

Cousins leaves Las Vegas after a productive, if imperfect, stretch of football. During his nine starts this season, the veteran signal-caller accumulated 2,340 passing yards and threw 20 touchdowns. Despite that statistical output, the Raiders sat at a 4-5 record during the first half of the season.

Mendoza, who entered the league as the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, has had limited opportunities to showcase his talent thus far. His season has been defined by a single appearance on Oct. 11, where he completed 6 of 8 attempts for 48 yards during a 45-17 loss to the New England Patriots.

The stakes for Sunday’s matchup are high for both the young quarterback and the Raiders’ offensive scheme. Mendoza must now manage a full professional workload for the first time, moving from a situational role to the centerpiece of the team’s weekly strategy.

The Raiders will host the Seattle Seahawks at 4:05 p.m. EST on Sunday.