The No. 1 overall pick, Fernando Mendoza, saw his second preseason game go sideways fast on Thursday night. With veteran Kirk Cousins taking the night off, Mendoza got the start for the Las Vegas Raiders against the Houston Texans, and while the Silver and Black offense looked promising early on, things took a brutal turn.
From Promising Drive To Total Disaster
Mendoza actually started strong, ripping a 22-yard dart to first-string wide receiver Jalen Nailor. Then, rookie running back Mike Washington Jr. broke free for a 33-yard scamper, putting the ball deep in Houston territory at their 24-yard line. The momentum was there, right? Nope. On first-and-10, Mendoza tried a play-action pass, drifting left and attempting a checkdown throw over the middle to Washington. But Texans rookie linebacker Wade Woodaz was right there, stepping in front to snag the interception.
Another Harsh Review For The Heisman Winner
Woodaz didn’t just pick it off; he took it to the house. The Texans rookie ran a full 80 yards for the pick-six, putting Houston up 14-0. Mendoza gave chase, trying desperately to stop the score, but it was over. After a mixed debut the previous week, Mendoza admitted he “let my teammates down.” You gotta figure this Thursday night throw, and that 80-yard return, is gonna lead to another super harsh self-review for the Heisman Trophy-winning signal-caller. He’s got a lot to figure out if he wants to turn this thing around.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Yahoo Sports.
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