Wednesday night the 2026 NFL regular season officially kicked off, pitting the two Super Bowl teams against each other. And one drive into the game, we already saw the value of the backup quarterback.
Starting QB Sam Darnold left the game with a hip injury. And just like that, the QB who led Seattle to a Lombardi Trophy last season was out and his backup Drew Lock was in.
That's how quickly things can change in this league, even at the most important position.
All offseason biggest question surrounding the Raiders was who was going to start at QB. Las Vegas had signed veteran QB Kirk Cousins and then selected QB Fernando Mendoza with the number one overall pick in the draft.
Ultimately it was Cousins who got the nod to start, but every play the Raiders
know Mendoza is a snap away from taking the field.
“Every guy is expected to be ready to go in whatever role he's in. Saw it last night," said Raiders offensive coordinator Andrew Janocko, referencing Wednesday night's game. "[Fernando Mendoza's] development doesn't change. He’s growing, learning, preparing to play, each and every single snap. Sometimes the reps are unique, how he gets it in practice, but, Coach Sullivan does a great job with his meetings, with his individual stuff, and preparing him to play in his role.”
Mendoza wasn't just battling with Cousins for the starting job in camp and preseason. He was battling with Aidan O'Connell to be the primary backup. That battle he won, making him the next man up should Cousins come out. Janocko described how Mendoza earned the team's confidence he could be in that role.
“Just the way he approached every single day, every meeting, every walk through," Janocko said of Mendoza. "When there was nothing to do, and how he was preparing, And then what he did on the field, the goods, the bads, and then how he grew from each experience, whether it be good or whether it be bad, how he grew and got ready to be in this role for this week.”
Drew Lock didn't light the world on fire when he entered the game for the Seahawks. But he did keep them in the game and brough them back from being down 10-0 to win the game 13-10. He did enough to put points on the board and let the defense do the rest. As opposed to what happened on the other side of the ball which was Drake Maye turning the ball over three times late in the game, including the game-sealing interception.
This article originally appeared on Raiders Wire: Raiders using Seahawks win as example why Fernando Mendoza needs to be ready
