Fernando Mendoza’s second preseason game falls apart before he could get anything going, and it wasn’t even his fault
The Las Vegas Raiders played their second preseason game against the Houston Texans, and it didn’t look pretty. However, Fernando Mendoza wasn’t entirely at fault.
The Las Vegas Raiders‘ second preseason game of the 2026 season didn’t go according to plan. Houston led 20-3 at the half, and the offense sputtered from the opening drive. Rookie quarterback Fernando Mendoza, who played the entire first half as expected, turned in a mixed performance that offered both encouragement and concern for a franchise banking on his development.
As ESPN’s Adam Schefter reported just hours before kickoff, Mendoza was set to play the entire first half against the Texans. That’s exactly what happened. The results were uneven. Mendoza finished 8 for 15 for 86 yards with a pick-6 against a Houston defense that, while not starting its top unit, remains one of the deepest in the league.
The good and the bad from Mendoza’s first half
There were legitimate bright spots. On the opening drive, Mendoza dropped a throw to wide receiver Jalen Nailor, who found a small window in tight coverage. It was a precise pass that moved the chains. Later, facing 3rd-and-17, Mendoza connected with Malik Benson for a first down.
When Mendoza looked comfortable, he was on fire. He showed off legitimate arm talent with some rocket throws, and after the interception he settled down and took the easy completions, getting the offense moving. But it always stalled. The Raiders scored on just one drive, a 51-yard field goal from kicker Matt Gay.
The pick-6 deserves context. Mendoza was looking to check it down to Mike Washington for what could have been a first down. It was a timing concept where Washington was supposed to sit in a certain spot. Washington didn’t sit, and the ball was picked off and returned 80 yards for a touchdown.
Mendoza sprinted back trying to chase down the defender, but it was too late. You can put a little blame on Mendoza for drifting to his left, toward the pressure on his blind side, but you can also put plenty on the miscommunication. In the grand scheme of things, the play is over. Move on.
The offensive line didn’t do Mendoza any favors, either. Trey Zuhn gave up a quarterback hit to Jadeveon Clowney, and Kaden McDonald, a player many Raiders fans wanted in this year’s draft, sacked Mendoza. He took hits throughout the half, yet still managed to complete over half his passes.
Under-center comfort remains a work in progress
One element stood out above everything else. On plays from under center, Mendoza didn’t look comfortable in his drop-back. He hardly ran any under-center plays during his final year in college, and it showed. There were multiple instances where his drop-back felt shorter than it should have been, where he’d take two steps and then wait. The timing looked off.
Now, to be fair, without knowing the exact play call or the protection scheme, there’s only so much you can diagnose from the outside. But the discomfort was visible. The good news is that when Mendoza did look settled in the pocket, the talent was obvious. The arm, the accuracy, the ability to make quick decisions after an interception and take the easy throw. It’s all there.
Where things stand for Mendoza and the Raiders’ QB situation
Mendoza wasn’t given a great opportunity to showcase his full skill set. The offense as a whole stunk, and the defense didn’t put him in favorable positions either. It was a toss-up performance in a game that is, ultimately, preseason. It’s also very obvious that Kirk Cousins is still the starter. Cousins didn’t play at all, and that tells you everything you need to know about where the depth chart stands right now.
But this isn’t the last we’ll see of Mendoza before the regular season. Offensive coordinator Klint Kubiak said Mendoza needs all of the reps, and he surely meant it. Whether it’s next week’s preseason game or at some point during the regular season, Mendoza will get more chances to prove he can be the Raiders’ franchise quarterback. The under-center development will be the thing to watch most closely when he does.
