Overview
- Reports and team comments have positioned veteran Kirk Cousins as the Raiders’ likely Week 1 starter with the organization planning a staged development path for No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza.
- On Saturday Mendoza took first‑team reps for the first time after an on‑field altercation led the club to hold out Kirk Cousins and Maxx Crosby from team periods.
- Insider reporting says minority owner Tom Brady is the strongest internal voice urging patience and recommending Mendoza sit until the staff and roster are ready to protect him.
- Coaches have offered mixed but constructive evaluations of Mendoza, highlighting his poise and command as the main readiness markers and noting the offensive line and protection as critical factors.
- The Raiders have framed padded training sessions and the Aug. 13 preseason game as the decisive near‑term milestones that will determine whether Mendoza is accelerated into the starter role and those outcomes will shape both short‑term competitiveness and Mendoza’s development timeline.