Raiders name Cousins starting QB for Week 1
Ryan McFaddenSep 2, 2026, 12:38 PM ET
- Ryan McFadden covers the Las Vegas Raiders for ESPN's NFL Nation. Prior to ESPN, McFadden was a Denver Broncos beat reporter for the Denver Post. McFadden also wrote about the Baltimore Ravens and University of Maryland athletics for The Baltimore Sun.
LAS VEGAS -- Kirk Cousins will begin the season as the Las Vegas Raiders' starting quarterback over rookie Fernando Mendoza.
Raiders first-year coach Klint Kubiak announced Wednesday that Cousins will start the season opener in Las Vegas against the Miami Dolphins.
Mendoza will be the first quarterback drafted with the No. 1 overall pick to not start in Week 1 since Baker Mayfield in 2018. Playing for the Cleveland Browns at the time, Mayfield didn't start until Week 4 after Tyrod Taylor started the first three games that season.
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