Raiders Still Refusing to Name a Starting QB

With the regular season just over three weeks away, the Las Vegas Raiders have yet to name a starting quarterback. Despite having the opportunity to do so following their 22-20 preseason win over the Texans on Thursday night, coach Klint Kubiak has chosen to keep everyone guessing.

According to Kubiak, the decision to keep the starting quarterback position uncertain is part of a larger strategy to keep the team on their toes. ‘We got another week of playing. I don’t want anyone to be comfortable in their job,’ Kubiak said. ‘It should always be that way for all positions. So, let’s keep going forward.’

While this statement suggests that the battle between Kirk Cousins and Fernando Mendoza will continue for another week, Kubiak’s comments throughout training camp have hinted that his decision may already be made. In a recent interview, Kubiak praised Cousins’ performance, stating that he’s ‘had a solid training camp and it’s his job to lose.’

Cousins’ chances of being named the starting quarterback seem to be growing by the day. Despite not playing in Thursday’s preseason game against the Texans, he has been taking part in joint practices with the team. During one such practice, Cousins was nearly perfect, going 5-of-6 for 50 yards and a touchdown.

However, Mendoza, the rookie quarterback, has also been given opportunities to prove himself. In Thursday’s game against the Texans, Mendoza got off to a rough start with a pick-six on his third pass of the game. He finished the game 8-of-15 for 86 yards, but the only touchdown he threw went to the other team. After the game, Kubiak stated that the rookie still has a lot to work on.

With Mendoza facing a steep learning curve, it’s becoming increasingly clear that Cousins is the likely choice to start in Week 1. Kubiak’s comments throughout training camp have hinted that Cousins is the frontrunner, and the fact that he’s been given more reps with the first team suggests that the decision may already be made.

The Raiders’ final preseason game is approaching, and it’s likely that Cousins will not play. This would mean that he’s only been on the field for one series over three games, which is a common strategy used by coaches to keep their veteran quarterback healthy for the season.

Since the start of training camp, there’s only been one instance in which Kubiak referred to Cousins as the starter. That was on Day 1, July 28, when he stated, ‘When we go out to practice tomorrow, Kirk Cousins is the starting quarterback. He’s the guy, and he’s going to get a ton of reps. He deserves them because he’s played really good football. But I want Fernando and I want Aidan (O’Connell) to push him.’

The depth chart at quarterback hasn’t changed much since that day, which suggests that ‘Kirk Cousins is the starting quarterback’ is a statement we’ll hear Kubiak make again in the very near future.