Fernando Mendoza tossed another interception against the San Francisco 49ers Thursday, but Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak isn’t putting the blame on his rookie quarterback. Nope, Kubiak pointed the finger directly at wide receiver Jalen Nailor for the pick, even calling Mendoza’s throw “excellent.”
The Play That Blew Up The Preseason
During the preseason loss to the Niners, Mendoza launched a pass that eventually fell into the hands of 49ers linebacker Tatum Bethune for an interception. But according to Kubiak, that play was on Nailor. “I thought that was an excellent throw,” Kubiak stated, per Ted Nguyen of The Athletic. He went on to say Mendoza “ripped it, just like we asked him to, on time.” Sure, Kubiak admitted the pass was “a little bit high,” but his immediate follow-up was blunt: “Jalen’s gotta make a play.” The ball did deflect off Nailor’s hands, making it a tough one, but the optics of a head coach absolving his No. 1 overall pick and putting his receiver on blast are wild for early season play.
The Rookie Rollercoaster So Far
Mendoza’s stat line against the 49ers wasn’t exactly stellar: 7-of-14 for 57 yards, zero touchdowns, and that one interception. This outing caps off a preseason that’s been a total mixed bag for the highly touted rookie. He flashed serious potential against the Arizona Cardinals, going 10-of-16 for 97 yards, one touchdown, and zero interceptions. That’s the Heisman Trophy winner and national champion we’ve heard about! But then he struggled against the Houston Texans, managing only 8-of-15 for 86 yards, zero touchdowns, and another interception, which Wade Woodaz returned for a touchdown. These are the kinds of mistakes you hope the No. 1 overall pick from the 2026 NFL draft cleans up, even if his head coach isn’t blaming him for all of them.
What’s Next For The Franchise QB?
Despite being the top pick with sky-high expectations, it looks like the Raiders are going to ease Mendoza into the NFL spotlight. CBS Sports’ Matt Zenitz reported that Kirk Cousins is expected to be named the starter for their Week 1 game against the Miami Dolphins. This means Mendoza will have some crucial time to learn under the veteran signal-caller. He’ll get to observe, develop, and ideally, clean up those preseason mistakes before he’s truly thrust into the role of presumed franchise quarterback. What’s at stake is his long-term development, and letting him learn from the sidelines might just be the best play for his future.
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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