Overview
- Head coach Klint Kubiak reiterated Friday that Kirk Cousins is the Raiders’ starting quarterback and said there is “no controversy” over the job.
- Cousins has produced strong numbers this season, leading the league in touchdown passes with 16 and ranking among the NFL leaders in passing yards while keeping turnovers relatively low.
- Rookie Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick, has a formal development plan but no set start date and saw a short mop-up debut when he completed six of eight passes for 48 yards.
- Las Vegas has dropped four straight to fall to 3-4, and coverage emphasizes that a struggling run game, defensive breakdowns and a pass-heavy offense are the main drivers of the slide rather than Cousins’ individual play.
- ESPN analysts put Cousins’ odds of being traded before the Nov. 10 deadline at about 20 percent, leaving the team to weigh short-term competitiveness, Mendoza’s readiness, and a difficult upcoming schedule when deciding next steps.