Former Indiana quarterback Fernando Mendoza to start for Las Vegas Raiders

EAST RUTHERFORD, NEW JERSEY - NOVEMBER 01: Fernando Mendoza #15 of the Las Vegas Raiders warms up prior to the game against the New York Jets at MetLife Stadium on November 01, 2026 in East Rutherford, New Jersey. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images) | Getty Images It’s time at last. Fernando Mendoza, t

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What is the story about?

It’s time at last.

Fernando Mendoza, the former Indiana football quarterback, Heisman Trophy winner, Big Ten champion and national champion, will start at quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders, per reporting from ESPN and NFL Network’s Ian Rapaport.

The move comes after the Raiders traded starter Kirk Cousins to the Minnesota Vikings just before today’s NFL trade deadline. Mendoza, selected by Las Vegas with the first overall pick in this past spring’s NFL Draft, has sat behind Cousins for the first nine

games of the season and now is set to lead the team for the remainder of the season.

Mendoza made his NFL debut in relief of Cousins in the fourth quarter of a loss against the New England Patriots, completing six of his eight passing attempts for 48 yards.

Trading Cousins says a few things about the Raiders’ thinking. For one, Las Vegas has lost five of its past six games after opening the season 3-0. The focus has clearly shifted from winning in 2026 to building for the future, and that means seeing what they have in Mendoza. For another, it says they’re comfortable sending Mendoza out there.

He won’t have the easiest start. The Raiders return to action this Sunday at home against one of the top defenses in the NFL in the Seattle Seahawks. They follow that up with another top defense in Denver.