Fernando Mendoza’s final preseason game was cut short tonight, and honestly, his shot at the starting quarterback gig probably went with it, at least for now. The No. 1 overall pick wrapped up his exhibition slate with a stat line that definitely won’t be boosting his stock after this showing. It was a tough night to watch for fans hoping to see him challenge for the top spot.
The Rough Finale That Spoke Volumes
Mendoza hit the field with 56 seconds left in the first quarter, stepping in after Kirk Cousins led the Raiders to a couple of Matt Gay field goals against the 49ers’ backups. But Mendoza’s time on the field wasn’t nearly as productive or long-lasting. He was out of the game by 28 seconds left in the third quarter, and not much went his way in between. His second pass of the night, a throw that sailed high intended for Jalen Nailor, got picked off by Tatum Bethune. Talk about a gut punch early on! When the final whistle blew on his evening, Mendoza had gone 7-of-14 for 57 yards, tallied that single interception, and found himself sacked twice. Across his five drives, the Raiders managed only 84 yards on 32 plays. And for all that effort, they walked away with just three points, thanks to a 45-yard Matt Gay field goal. It wasn’t all on Gay though, as he also missed a 54-yard attempt during one of Mendoza’s drives.
The Preseason Numbers Are Getting Hard to Ignore
Looking at his entire preseason body of work, Mendoza finished with 25 completions on 45 attempts for a total of 240 yards. He threw one touchdown pass, but also added two interceptions and was sacked four times overall. Those numbers, especially the two picks against a lone touchdown, don’t exactly scream “starter material” for a No. 1 overall pick trying to unseat a veteran like Cousins. It’s pretty clear from these statistics that he didn’t appear to seriously challenge Kirk Cousins for the starting job. The consistent pressure, leading to four sacks across his appearances, also shows he was often feeling the heat from opposing defenses. It’s a snapshot that’s tough to spin positively right now.
Even with this preseason performance wrapping up on a low note, there’s still a glimmer of hope: Fernando Mendoza *could* still find himself starting at some point this season. Football’s a wild game, and with injuries or other unforeseen circumstances often changing everything in a hurry, you never know what’s around the corner. So while the starter’s job isn’t his right now, keep an eye on him. Things can shift fast, and sometimes all it takes is one chance.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Pro Football Talk.
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