The Las Vegas Raiders’ No. 1 overall pick, Fernando Mendoza, threw a brutal pick-six on just his third pass of Thursday’s game against the Houston Texans. After a “standout performance” in his preseason debut last week, this was a serious slice of humble pie for the rookie quarterback, immediately setting an underwhelming tone for the entire night.
Rookie Rollercoaster Hits a Major Bump
Mendoza played the entire first half, completing only 8 of 16 passes for a meager 86 yards. He led the Raiders to a grand total of three points while he was on the field. That 80-yard pick-six by Texans linebacker Wade Woodaz, who jumped a pass over the middle, just highlighted the struggles. While the Raiders ultimately pulled off a 22-20 comeback victory, it took backup Aidan O’Connell to make it happen. O’Connell had much better luck against the Texans’ defense, completing 15 of 24 passes and erasing a 20-3 halftime deficit. It’s clear Mendoza is facing a steep learning curve, and that kind of turnover on the third snap is a major red flag for a guy with so much hype. You gotta wonder how long the leash will be for the No. 1 pick if these kinds of struggles continue into the early season.
Niners Get a Shot of Good News, Bengals Chase a Super Bowl
Switching gears, it wasn’t all gloom and doom around the league. San Francisco 49ers tight end George Kittle received some encouraging news on the injury front this week. After suffering an Achilles tear in January, it’s believed Kittle is ahead of schedule with his recovery and could be back for the regular season opener against the Los Angeles Rams. His visit with Dr. Neal ElAttrache on Wednesday was “encouraging,” and Kittle himself expressed optimism about returning by the start of the regular season. Last year, Kittle was efficient in 11 games, racking up 57 receptions, 628 yards, and seven touchdowns. Adding him back would be a huge positive for the 49ers offense and quarterback Brock Purdy, especially after losing wide receiver Ricky Pearsall for the entire season, which forced them to sign veteran wideout Deebo Samuel after camp started. Meanwhile, Joe Burrow and the Cincinnati Bengals are done waiting around. After missing the playoffs for three straight seasons, the star quarterback made it crystal clear on Thursday that it’s “now or never” for a Super Bowl run. Burrow told reporters, “I’m trying to put it out into the world. I’m trying to manifest it. I’m trying to show our guys the urgency that I have and that I want us to have as an organization to go and make it happen.”
The pressure is on for a lot of guys, from Mendoza trying to prove his No. 1 overall pick status, to Kittle pushing for an early return, and Burrow demanding a Super Bowl trip. That 49ers opener against the Rams could be a big one, especially if Kittle truly makes it back. For the Bengals, you know every snap this year is going to be about that Super Bowl promise Burrow just made.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Fox Sports.
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