Overview
- Head coach Klint Kubiak opened training camp by naming Kirk Cousins the first‑team starter and giving him the bulk of early reps.
- No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza has embraced a backup, “following” role and publicly said he is “nowhere near” ready to run the offense by himself.
- Coaches and teammates praise Mendoza’s coachability as he shows measurable on‑field gains in camp, including tighter-window throws not seen in OTAs.
- The club plans to use padded practices and the Aug. 13 preseason game as key evaluation windows, and some analysts predict Mendoza could be inserted sooner than the team projects.
- Roster and contract factors shape the timeline: Cousins is a one‑year, heavily guaranteed veteran bridge, the offensive line’s play is cited as a readiness factor, and the Raiders are balancing short‑term competitiveness with developing their No. 1 pick.