# Fernando Mendoza named Raiders' starting quarterback

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-11-11 01:00 UTC · Category: Sports

## Executive Summary
The Las Vegas Raiders named rookie Fernando Mendoza their starting quarterback after trading Kirk Cousins to the Minnesota Vikings for a 2027 third-round pick.

## Intelligence Brief
The Las Vegas Raiders named rookie Fernando Mendoza their starting quarterback after trading Kirk Cousins to the Minnesota Vikings for a 2027 third-round pick, according to Yahoo Sports. Cousins, a four-time Pro Bowler, posted an Instagram story with a photo of himself and Mendoza in Raiders uniforms and wrote, "Thank you Raider Nation! Go get em @fernandomendoza." The Raiders signed Cousins last April to a five-year, $172 million contract, then selected Mendoza with the first overall pick in the 2026 draft. Head coach Klint Kubiak had declared Cousins the starter, and with him the Raiders reached a 4-5 record, already exceeding their three wins from the 2025 season, while the offense ranked among the top ten in points and passing yards per game. Mendoza's only regular-season appearance came in a Week 5 loss to the New England Patriots, where he completed six of eight passes for 48 yards. He will now lead the Raiders against the Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos, two of the league's top defenses, in consecutive games.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| Yahoo Sports | Nick Wright shares why he’s ‘a little concerned’ about Fernando Mendoza now | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMihAFBVV95cUxNc1UxWlVfd2dlbVNNRWl1MXQtcG9xVUpTSERNNW9PWjlOVHBIU0Z1dG5Vel9jODV6UTIzaHYzNWFfX0tjVzRoOEl3YWc2eGlzSjNZX2xsTVJib1d1Um9vN0xuVFBscURRbDFVQjliaDFDMUwtcW16QnNNUlo5ZVVOUHlWdks?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | Fernando Mendoza Gets a Harsh Reality Check From Ex-Raiders HC Ahead of Seahawks Clash | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMijAFBVV95cUxNc1dMdXRvZW1aeTNVR2ZOa2lFQnVSSnBxQS1mOEdKZzhjSHZVMGxjd0pUUnBaWFpUb2QtTzBxOVhNa3phQV9lRHVJV2Q0b09FVnhvdXZ2VEt0SkdXR25FQTh5SG40R2JJeE5pT1gwZnU0NE41OTIyTnBFNlFGUmtNRHAwTlRvVGsyc05tdQ?oc=5) |
| Cleveland.com | Fernando Mendoza credits Kirk Cousins’ family for shaping his NFL readiness | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMivwFBVV95cUxNLTIxWmlIZVVZSVo0RmlPRW8ydFh0d1FyM2t2eTBLWTd0dFItdWhNaFhrV1Zqb3pkVHVFZXlDcWkwbl9rWm03YUVYM01OdFlvU0ZrYk9wZXlIbFVSMXhFNFdKUVk3Z0RjVVotVFV2RTA1QW8wem5kX2pJbVhqT1Z0ZlVXM0NTb3pxMzZBRkoyMDlqM3FrYzd6SEswaTZpVExZaUFsTWs4Q0F0cWZpcV84aHJrb0ZBdDMzYTJxMzRYMA?oc=5) |
| ESPN | Fernando Mendoza and the Raiders' sit-and-learn plan: Is he ready to start? | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiowFBVV95cUxQcThmRUpHY1VOSUlYcWdYVWJ4Q2hOS05DbkoxZW9hdHpOZW9selFkMVNRWnU5SG0yRmJVckhiS2RZZ25hbTVGNXpFbDhZeEppbGlIOHpfM1I5NXk2WmhrMlB0eHMyMVJPbW9TU0haTGoxN3h6czBDMVhSTzF4TGk3YnNISS1vS3czRHN5NUhqdkxHTG80LVF4R24ydy1Fb2N0dVI0?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | ‘A Lot of Dudes Don’t Do That’ — Pro Bowler Sees the Making of a Winner in Fernando Mendoza After Raiders QB’s Gesture Towards Kirk Cousins | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMid0FVX3lxTE84akZoX1NEeUpiQm5RUFlvejRmckZ4SHMtcFFwQlhNcjVYUjFBTTFDZnlIYWxuTE9fY1lfcnI3cmZkYWVsUUl4NkR5M0YwRDZIX0ZzU0RqRzllWXlfNVdpdnlCWjFBQ3EzUFV6cWlydnNPQWlKejkw?oc=5) |
| Seattle Seahawks | Seahawks Prepare For Raiders Opponent With Familiar Play-Caller Debuting QB Fernando Mendoza | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMivwFBVV95cUxQbnowR2Z6cVAwajhmUmJXeW5DR1FoMmQtY0k1Z1dyU1Y1WUhRRHpmM19GeURaWW52VGFBTnNCSEVTWUpLYXE1ZWt6V1VCbHVnRHc1RWg3MTBvU0U4VnAzYlhuMUdRd3RRRFM5SDJFVnVhSVd4WnVPcDB0N2hTWFY2R2Jqd0FxRWlRdzFKS3l0LTF5NGNkQTFzVmpuTlB1R0dzWW9BZldhTjNXOG1kM3QybVJvUnNYVWk1VG5JVEpfdw?oc=5) |
| Silver And Black Pride | Raiders-Seahawks: Fernando Mendoza faces top-ranked defense in 1st start | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiwgFBVV95cUxQYUFOUnRzWi1uUDg4U3pIWDY0eS0ybnVwTEh5ZWptZTFpTkR6RWlaTEtJdVVSb0s5eVEzU3lTWU9aMXp4LVhYanhuOWlKYlpmbkltWmdJb1lvV2RadTNyWHhVTmpSMTNFSUVoWUVMMU5xRm41anVuNVdKV3JCSnF6T3ZNbmZCX0ZnNjdWZ0xWdWh1RGNoMTluNm9ybXlKaDNWNmwyNnBtRkhqOGZBNjVDblpVU1dhY1diYThYblVMV2pPQQ?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | Raiders believe Fernando Mendoza is ‘more than ready’ to step into QB1 role | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMijwFBVV95cUxQalUxTGdIQml4NkVJSFZneHBTMXlZeTJ4anlIT3ZPQS1DYmtFTmZDMFR3dVNsTUpraWJ4NXA1bUEtQ2Fxa1Y1U2pIX3VhXzcwT2plUWF6V0FvT0lyZ3dDYVlLTUpJRnVIYl9mUUhtYlZjWkkxY2NHdnQyUGhITmVyOXBSY1RUMW14MmJTbjZJSQ?oc=5) |
| The Seattle Times | Behind Seahawks’ rollout of white throwback jerseys set for 2027 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMirgFBVV95cUxNSk1KM2FPdENGZmxpZHJKdENPVVp3UDVVbjVhbHgxWFNmX3kwTU5TVVM4cnNmU2lkVi1DeHZlS0dtSnI5Qi1yNDdWc3FOWTVhbDEyUkZMclhDcU9TbHM2ZFM0ODZUNVgyQmxHM3I0Tk92aVAxMHZXb3cxd3ZVNlVQYVJSLVNZTHUxQmw0MnFwNTJ3Tk9uaTAtYnhBQjNDLWxXWFZtTWFiUWd1TUszbFE?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | Jon Gruden Delivers Emphatic Message About Fernando Mendoza’s Raiders Future | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMijgFBVV95cUxNaDh1ZU9GVEVZLV9LXy04TGhFVnNnV040YVlKYVd5UHJEWUlSVTVEMkhBX0xSR3JTWXhhWDBLZGNhOUlHY3JTcXpiRVp1UmRGaHNTYXRTNXZWQlVBaEVmYWxFV0phaUgybG5FSUxBVXZMM2RFUDNnNU5odEdkNk03RWtYTkVXM0V2REgwcmVR?oc=5) |
| Raiders.com | Bucky's Breakdown: 3 things needed from Fernando Mendoza to be successful in his starting debut | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiwAFBVV95cUxOaGFrRDhqeDZEM0lMN25xTkowMVFyVHNobm0taV9WQ09EbXB4am1LQUJoSUVOMk9mVGtFSnlwRnNadU9ramtlZXNselhIMERNZk9xbjJ1aENmNjNvVGsyNEI0NTBTVUxGYjhyajc2cWV5TGhYOG1UVU9oaUxQLS11RGZQLVpBTnQ2bTNCM0xlTlFSbmxqZDV4bFBUVUw2STBHNTFpbURMV2lkcEs0Q2U2WlZ0WHlXS2p3NUxvNFlkcVc?oc=5) |
| FOX Sports | The Raiders Have Given Meticulous Fernando Mendoza The Keys. What Should We Expect? | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMihAFBVV95cUxOV3doU2FhTjV1V3BmWFd4d3hGbDVqR2Ffd1RyM0lLQVpmRGRDOWVoRWMySlh6ODcxTVhVa2ktaTZLQ1RHQ0NWRVFfYWtmRnFCRmtrQWZhTi1CdkpQb1M5RjEycG96ck1DNy1fZm9mX1UxQWVnV190ZWFJNUYxOWhGb3hJcUvSAYQBQVVfeXFMTzQ4SXZmclBMZnNxeUcwVTlPWkhyQjd2SUQ1YThiOVVPaU16NjJZOE1DcThsZ2lpWE92S1lnTU5tVjRrNzRoZTJVQTJIVjlFR3VmdkFuYmhSV2gwSlVoVWItMlF1bk9VNGx1SlB5Z3ZEV2pNZEF0YTVBLWkyYVV2RERtbjlH?oc=5) |
| People.com | Fernando Mendoza Gushes Over Kirk Cousins for Welcoming Him with ‘Open Arms’ as Rookie QB | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMinwFBVV95cUxPTkZBVG03UlU2VHNTTk9MYlYyT3hyeEEyTVdFOUdJUVVCaTRkMlpHX0dyYmpPbTI3UHk5cG03bjNIY3htb0JUeUNQSDBaRGxBXzdSZFdMZXkxVXRrc05DQk9NVnkwRmxWc1BKM0FtNkludEpXWktES2s2cWFRZER5NnFwSDBLUW1DNjYtZHlMaFgyTHdObjhYR2RSeWVfckk?oc=5) |
| CBS Sports | Kirk Cousins returns to Lambeau Field as Vikings visit Packers | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMinwFBVV95cUxQRUxxcmtBUG1SLWdVM3pZLTFqMEs4RGFMZ28wb2RVeHp2eWhwZUFuMU1sR3dWaklZb0JOMFZTVFdXSzdYRTgzczdjMkREWnhFdFF5VlV2WDFDYmNhblRwcUtkSzd2NVZkRTB1UDhrcjAxV2hoMXhaUUZnc1VueFcyLWhyTFp4Si05V2w5WkwyVEJqRjZXdnFVc3p0SWpoVDg?oc=5) |
| NBC Sports | Kirk Cousins will wear No. 8 again for Vikings | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiqwFBVV95cUxNMkRUZVQ1XzF1M1d1YThfYWJaQks2MWI5c2dYcFBnVTZKUGoyXzNBMmhYYzJpMU1kNlk3TTI1ZW8yckNOYm9aUS1aUE5qaG4zeDlHSkZTbFdnSkJwM1BYNk9fR25kbVdJZFZDZVJWV0pDXzF3M1ZteHpMb1ZzZHN4a0RhdUYtNnVqZWZESEdMRkdBSHdROWl4M0dWa2dsanBEOGVFbmZRUVZiSWM?oc=5) |

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