Overview
- Reporting from July 20–21 shows the Raiders view Kirk Cousins as the presumptive Week‑1 starter while they deliberately ease rookie Fernando Mendoza into the offense.
- Coaches led by Klint Kubiak plan to 'sprinkle' Mendoza with limited first‑team reps in practice rather than hand him the full-time starting role immediately.
- ESPN analysis projects Mendoza will see less than half of first‑team reps early in camp but could increase his workload by late August if he performs well.
- Mendoza had not signed his rookie deal as of late July and his projected four‑year contract of about $57.27 million is expected to be finalized before camp begins.
- The plan reflects both Mendoza’s limited under‑center college work and the Kubiak–Cousins history in Minnesota, and the camp and preseason live reps will determine whether the rookie accelerates into the starting job.