Kubiak Names Cousins Starter Over No. 1 Pick Mendoza for September 13 Opener

Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak named Kirk Cousins as the starting quarterback for the Week 1 matchup against the Miami Dolphins on September 13, bypassing No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza. Kubiak made the announcement on Wednesday, approximately a week and a half before the season opener. Cousins, 38, signed a one-year, $20 million deal with Las Vegas during free agency. Mendoza will become the first No. 1 overall pick quarterback to not start in Week 1 since Baker Mayfield in 2018. Six straight first-pick QBs have opened as starters since Mayfield: Kyler Murray (2019), Joe Burrow (2020), Trevor Lawrence (2021), Bryce Young (2023), Caleb Williams (2024), and Cam Ward (2025), according to CBS Sports. Cousins completed 13 of 17 passes for 101 yards and a touchdown across two preseason games. Mendoza threw interceptions in both preseason Week 2 and preseason Week 3 while completing just over half of his passes. Per TruMedia's data reported by CBS Sports, Mendoza was pressured on 19 of 51 preseason dropbacks. Kubiak stated: 'He needs another three preseason games. All those rookies do. Now that the season is starting, the practice reps get smaller, and that's just life.' The most significant obstacle for Mendoza has been his adjustment from college to an under-center scheme. Mendoza spent just 2.2 percent of his college snaps under center, according to CBS Sports' rookie grades. In his first preseason with the Raiders, that figure jumped to 56.5 percent. Kubiak said of Mendoza: 'He played really good football. I'm really happy with all three of our quarterbacks. Kirk's had a really good offseason, very good camp, and he's earned it.' Kubiak brings history with Cousins: he served as Cousins' quarterbacks coach in Minnesota from 2019 to 2020 and as offensive coordinator in 2021. During that tenure, Cousins made two Pro Bowls. Cousins appeared in 10 games for the Atlanta Falcons last year, starting eight with a 5-3 record. He threw for 1,721 yards, 10 touchdowns, and five interceptions while completing 61 percent of his passes. Cousins suffered a torn Achilles in 2024. Kubiak's recent offensive coordinator role in Seattle last year yielded results: under his guidance, Sam Darnold finished second in the NFL in yards per attempt off under-center passes. Cousins targeted tight ends at a career-high 29 percent rate in 2025. The Raiders face the Chiefs, at New England, Buffalo, and Los Angeles in October following September, and their bye week is not until December, according to CBS Sports.