Rookie Mendoza shows promise in Las Vegas despite preseason loss
Las Vegas — The Las Vegas Raiders' top overall draft pick, Fernando Mendoza, threw a touchdown in his preseason debut Thursday night, completing 10 of 16 passes for 97 yards in a 27-14 loss to the Arizona Cardinals.
Mendoza, the Heisman Trophy winner who joined the Raiders as the No. 1 selection, led a scoring drive that culminated in a six-yard touchdown pass to Jack Bech. He finished the evening with a mixed but encouraging performance that included several sharp throws and a near-miss in the fourth quarter.
- Line: 10-for-16, 97 yards, 1 TD
- Score: Raiders 14, Cardinals 27
- Notable: Mendoza nearly connected on a second touchdown late in the game, with a pass falling beyond the reach of Deven Thompkins.
Several context points shaped the preseason matchup for the Raiders in Las Vegas. The expected head-to-head rematch of Mendoza and Cardinals’ quarterback Carson Beck — who faced Mendoza in the college national championship game — did not occur because Beck did not play due to sore ribs. Defensive leader Maxx Crosby also remained out, his status having been previously described as to be determined after knee surgery in January.
Other notable roster news from the game included the return to action of Jermod McCoy, who has not played in nearly two years following a torn ACL. McCoy participated with the second-team defense at cornerback and was the primary defender on two Cardinals touchdowns.
"Mendoza became the first top overall draft selection to throw a touchdown pass in his first preseason game since 2018 when Cleveland’s Baker Mayfield had two against the New York Giants."
The first quarterbacks for each team played one series apiece and each series resulted in a touchdown. Raider starter Kirk Cousins completed 5 of 6 passes for 50 yards and a 13-yard score to tight end Michael Mayer. On the opposing side, Arizona starter Jacoby Brissett was perfect on his series, completing all five attempts for 44 yards and a seven-yard touchdown to Marvin Harrison Jr.
After those opening exchanges, Arizona’s backup quarterbacks combined efficiently. Brissett and former Raider Gardner Minshew connected on a string of completions that extended into the second half. According to game summaries, Brissett and Minshew went 15 of 15 for 123 yards and three touchdowns in the first half, and that streak of consecutive completions reached 16 before Minshew recorded an incomplete pass on a rollout.
What the outing means for the Raiders in Las Vegas
For Las Vegas fans, Mendoza’s debut offered tangible evidence of the rookie’s ability to make NFL throws under game conditions. Highlights included a 19-yard completion in the second quarter that sliced between three defenders to fellow rookie Malik Benson. Still, the overall result — a preseason loss — underlined unfinished areas for both the offense and defensive personnel in live-game settings.
From a roster-evaluation standpoint, several takeaways from the game are useful for Raiders coaches and local observers:
- Mendoza displayed accuracy and poise in short-to-intermediate reads, completing a majority of his attempts and delivering a touchdown drive.
- Absences by key veterans, including Maxx Crosby, meant younger players received larger evaluative opportunities on defense.
- Special teams and depth roles will remain areas to watch as the preseason continues and the roster shapes up for regular-season decisions.
| Player | Stat line |
|---|---|
| Fernando Mendoza | 10-16, 97 yards, 1 TD |
| Kirk Cousins | 5-6, 50 yards, 1 TD |
| Jacoby Brissett (Arizona) | 5-5, 44 yards, 1 TD |
Las Vegas residents who follow the Raiders will likely focus on Mendoza’s development across the remainder of preseason play and in practices at the team facility. With several veterans managing workloads and recovering from offseason procedures, the preseason offers a testing ground for Mendoza and other rookies to stake claims for larger roles once the regular season begins.
While the final score favored the Cardinals, Mendoza’s touchdown and several precise deliveries provided reason for optimism among local supporters watching a top draft pick take his first snaps in a Raiders uniform at Allegiant Stadium.
