The Las Vegas Raiders are now nursing a four-game losing streak after their 3-0 start, most recently losing 35-21 to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday in Week 7.
Quarterback Kirk Cousins has been productive despite the recent woes, ranking third in the league with 1,877 yards and first with 16 passing touchdowns, though the advanced metrics are less friendly. Cousins has struggled with efficiency and ranks just 21st in the league in QBR and 10th among current starters in EPA/play.
Amid this rough stretch, many fans have called for a change at quarterback. Backup Fernando Mendoza, the rookie first overall pick and 2025 Heisman Trophy winner, has attempted a pass in just one game — spelling Cousins in a blowout Week 5 loss against the Patriots.
Mendoza
went 6 of 8 for 48 yards in that game, but he hasn't seen the field in the last weeks. As he has in the past, coach Klint Kubiak threw cold water on the idea of benching Cousins during his Monday press conference.
Though he said after Sunday's loss that he would evaluate everything, including the quarterback, Kubiak declared Monday that "there is no controversy" and Cousins will start in Week 8 against the New York Jets.
"Fernando (Mendoza) is going to play at some point; it's not going to be this week," Kubiak said.
"Fernando [Mendoza] is gonna play at some point, it's not gonna be this week."
— NFL on ESPN (@ESPNNFL) October 26, 2026
Raiders HC Klint Kubiak names Kirk Cousins the starting QB vs. the Jets. pic.twitter.com/38npWXO5PH
Kubiak has been fairly dismissive of questions about his quarterback so far this season, and he gave a similar answer after Mendoza's first game action against the Patriots. It doesn't seem as if anything has changed in that department, as Kubiak made it clear that Cousins will maintain his job, at least heading into Week 8.
This article originally appeared on For The Win: Klint Kubiak put his foot down about when Fernando Mendoza will start for the Raiders
