Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak used his Monday media availability to shut down any notion of a quarterback controversy heading into Week 8 against the New York Jets.
After cryptic post-game remarks had fueled speculation that the club might turn to rookie Fernando Mendoza, Kubiak opened his session with a clear declaration.
“Alright, I just want to start by letting you guys know that Kirk Cousins is our starting quarterback; there is no controversy, he is playing at a very high level, and he’s got to continue to do that for us to win. We’ve got to keep helping all the areas around him. So excited for him to play here against the Jets,” Kubiak said.
He added that Mendoza “is gonna play at some point, it’s not gonna be this week.”
When pressed on the factors that will eventually determine when the 23-year-old takes over, Kubiak emphasized patience and the team’s current standing.
“Yeah, eventually Fernando is going to play football. We have a plan,” Kubiak said. “We don’t have a timeline for that. Kirk is playing really well, and we’re in the hunt. It’s really important that we keep playing really well behind him and to continue to develop Fernando, but Fernando is going to play at some point but it’s not going to be this week.”
Mendoza, selected first overall out of Indiana in April, has seen limited action so far. He entered in garbage time during a blowout loss to the New England Patriots and finished 6-of-8 for 48 yards.
The Raiders secured that top pick after both they and the Jets finished last season at 3-14, with Las Vegas winning the tiebreaker.
Cousins has started every game through the first seven weeks. He has completed 62.6 percent of his passes for 1,877 yards with 16 touchdowns against five interceptions.
Those numbers place him first in touchdown passes, third in passing yards, seventh in completions, and sixth in attempts league-wide.
At 38, however, he has already matched or exceeded the interception totals from most of his prior seasons outside his rookie year, and his limited mobility leaves him largely confined to the pocket.
From the Jets’ perspective, facing Cousins offers a clearer path than preparing for Mendoza.
There is virtually no meaningful regular-season tape on the rookie, which would have forced New York’s defense to scheme against an unknown.
With Kubiak confirming the veteran will start, the Jets can focus on pressuring an immobile passer who has shown a willingness to force throws into traffic.
Kubiak’s comments leave little room for surprise on Sunday, even as the long-term plan for Mendoza remains intentionally open-ended.
