Fernando Mendoza’s second career preseason game on Thursday night started with an absolute gut punch, throwing a pass over the middle of the field that was picked off and returned 80 yards for a touchdown on the Las Vegas Raiders’ very first drive. Talk about a brutal way to kick things off for your No. 1 overall pick from the 2026 NFL draft. That’s a hard lesson learned right out of the gate.
That First Half Was Rough. Real Rough.
The rookie quarterback played the entire first half against the Houston Texans, and honestly, it felt like an uphill battle from the jump. After that opening pick-six, things didn’t exactly get much smoother for the young signal-caller. Through the Raiders’ first two drives, Mendoza was just 1-of-4 for a measly 22 yards. Yikes. That’s a tough look for any quarterback, let alone one carrying the kind of expectations tied to being a top draft pick.
While he did apparently grow “more comfortable” as the half wore on, the scoreboard didn’t exactly reflect a massive turnaround. The Raiders went into halftime trailing the Texans 20-3, a deep hole to climb out of in any game, preseason or not. The offense as a whole struggled to find any rhythm, managing only 144 total yards through those first two quarters of action. Mendoza’s final stat line for the night was 8-of-15 for 86 yards and that killer interception. He’s absolutely going to be dissecting that film.
Is He the Real Deal? Or Still a Backup?
This performance wasn’t quite what Raiders fans saw in his preseason debut just a week earlier, on August 13th, against the Arizona Cardinals. In that game, Mendoza looked a good deal more efficient, completing 62.5 percent of his passes for 97 yards and even tossing a touchdown through four drives. So, we know he *can* put together better outings, which just makes Thursday’s struggles against the Texans even more frustrating.
Right now, Mendoza is operating as the Raiders’ No. 2 quarterback behind veteran Kirk Cousins in training camp. It’s important not to overreact to a single preseason appearance, especially for a rookie. But for a guy who many imagine could establish himself as the Raiders’ starter under center before the end of their 2026 campaign, he’s got to show more consistency and command than what we witnessed on Thursday night. The raw talent from his Indiana days is clearly there, but the execution needs to follow more often.
Mendoza’s got to dig deep and show he can fare better moving forward. That starting job isn’t just handed out; you’ve gotta earn it with every rep. He’s got a big opportunity in front of him, and proving his consistency is the key if he wants a shot at taking the reins in Las Vegas.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bleacher Report.
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