After a strong showing in his first preseason action against the Arizona Cardinals, Las Vegas Raiders rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza fell down to earth a bit in the second preseason game against the Houston Texans. He missed some passes, threw a pick-six and took a few big hits.
The game likely didn’t help his chances of being the Week 1 starter, but it shouldn’t hurt them too much. Following the game, head coach Klint Kubiak wouldn’t rule out the possibility that Mendoza can win the job.
“We’ve got another week of playing. I don’t want anyone to be comfortable in their job,” Kubiak said. “It should always be that way for all positions. So, let’s keep going forward.”
The Raiders signed Kirk Cousins in free agency with the idea that he’d be the starter. They haven’t been eager to rush Mendoza onto the field. While that’s been the plan from the get-go, some analysts think it’s a red flag. Fox Sports’ Rob Parker believes it indicates that the Raiders don’t have faith in the young quarterback.
“This just sounds to me like the Raiders are convinced Mendoza is ultimately going to be a bust, and they don’t have the confidence that this guy, who took Indiana to a National Championship, should be ‘that guy,’” Parker said on “The Odd Couple.”
Why This Take is Complete Nonsense
To put it lightly, this take is completely nonsensical. The Raiders specifically signed Cousins because they didn’t want to rush Mendoza. There has been no indication that they’ve soured on the No. 1 pick.
Parker isn’t exactly known for his measured and fair takes, so it’s not a surprise, but it’s ridiculous to suggest that Mendoza is a bust before he even takes a single regular-season snap.
Even if Cousins wins the starting job, it wouldn’t be time to worry. Mendoza is a young player who deserves plenty of time to prove what he can do.
Mendoza Takes Accountability for Rough Game
Nobody is going to be harder on Mendoza than himself. He’s a relentless worker, which is why he’s had success. He was disappointed with himself for the interception.
“The margins are so small,” Mendoza said postgame. “One tiny mistake can lead to catastrophe. So I want to make sure that I best serve my teammates and get better from these experiences.”
Even Josh Allen and Patrick Mahomes throw plenty of interceptions. It’s easy to blame others for a mistake, but Mendoza acknowledged that it wasn’t his best throw.
“It was not a good throw,” Mendoza said. “We were not on the same page and it was an interception.”
Mendoza is quickly learning the NFL is a completely different beast than college, and he’s still got work to do to be ready.
“I came away with that there’s a lot more learning to do, and that although maybe you had a lot of success at another level, this level is a whole step further,” Mendoza said.
Mendoza is going to do what he can to be successful, but it could take time for him to prove himself.
Radio Host Says Raiders Believe Fernando Mendoza Is a Bust