Fernando Mendoza kept it all the way real and authentic after an up-and-down practice against the Houston Texans
The Houston Texans put a beating on Fernando Mendoza in their training camp joint practices, and he had some good and bad moments.
The Las Vegas Raiders started their first joint practice with the Houston Texans on Tuesday. A few days before their game against the Texans, the Raiders wanted to go against one of the best defenses in the NFL. Some would even say the best defense. Fernando Mendoza found that out the hard way.
On Tuesday, Mendoza had an up-and-down practice. According to reporters who made the trip to Houston, he had some really nice throws during his reps with the starters. But he also had some plays he’d wish he had back. One of those was a red-zone interception during team periods, which was picked off by Houston safety/nickel Jalen Pitre. Despite the bad play, he remained poised and composed.
“It’s something you have to learn as a quarterback,” Mendoza said when asked how to not let the red-zone interception get to him and ruin his practice. “I didn’t feel any burden after that play [redzone INT]. It would be a burden to my team if I let that play affect me. Sometimes you may learn more from bad than from good.”
Mendoza mentioned that he just misread the safety in that situation. It was a pass play where he was trying to target running back Ashton Jeanty. His mentality is perfect for someone in his position. Being the franchise guy as a rookie is not easy, and you’re going to make mistakes. You just cannot let them rule you and make you play worse. Oh and, he’s not even the only one who threw an interception in practice.
Kirk Cousins throws pick-six to Texans’ Kamari Lassiter
The Raiders didn’t just light the world on fire offensively on the first day of joint practices. Kirk Cousins had his woes, too. But this is a new offensive scheme, a new coach, a new quarterback, and other new pieces scattered across the offense. Meanwhile, they’re facing the best defense in the NFL, which has been the best for the last three or four years.
So, yes, the Raiders were going to struggle. Cousins threw a pick-six to stud cornerback Kamari Lassister. Luckily, they did have some good moments on offense, and it wasn’t all bad. They also had some good moments on defense against the Texans’ offense. It was a productive day at the office in Houston.
