Overview
- Head coach Klint Kubiak announced Tuesday that Kirk Cousins will open training camp as the Raiders’ starting quarterback and will receive the majority of first‑team reps.
- Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick and the franchise’s long‑term plan at quarterback, will be eased into game duty as he adapts from mostly shotgun college snaps to Kubiak’s heavier use of under‑center concepts.
- The Raiders signed Cousins to provide on‑field stability and experience, and multiple reports say minority owner Tom Brady favored starting a veteran to reduce early pressure on the rookie.
- The immediate checkpoints for any change are pads‑on practices, the preseason opener on Aug. 13 and the regular‑season opener on Sept. 13, with Mendoza able to supplant Cousins if his camp and preseason performance demand it.
- Aidan O’Connell remains in the mix as a backup who could push for playing time or become a trade asset, and the team says it will judge quarterbacks on how they respond to adversity, correct mistakes and lead the offense.