Following last week’s Hall of Fame Game, NFL Preseason Week 1 kicks off on Thursday, August 13, highlighted by a highly anticipated debut in the Arizona Cardinals vs. Las Vegas Raiders clash.
While Cardinals QB Carson Beck is out tonight, Raiders QB Fernando Mendoza—the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft—will make his preseason debut in tonight’s 8:00 p.m. ET kickoff.
Will Fernando Mendoza start for the Raiders on Thursday? We’ll look at that and more, including how long Mendoza could play vs. the Cardinals and his stat projections on PrizePicks.
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Is Fernando Mendoza Starting or Playing Tonight vs. Cardinals?
Fernando Mendoza is expected to make his preseason debut on Thursday night, but he is not in line to start vs. the Cardinals.
Ahead of tonight’s preseason bout, Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak said, “Our starters are going to play. So he (Mendoza) could get some reps with a few of those guys. But I just don’t want to talk about how we’re going to play those guys.”
Las Vegas’ first unofficial depth chart was released on Monday, August 10, listing QB Kirk Cousins as the starting signal-caller. That should make Cousins the starter tonight, but Mendoza could log more snaps with PrizePicks giving the rookie 102.5 projected passing yards tonight.
Keep in mind the Cardinals are also expected to feature starters in some capacity, as head coach Mike LaFleur stated on Tuesday, “They’re going to play. How much? It’s not going to be much. One drive, max of two for those main guys.”
Remember, Kubiak suggested giving the former Heisman winner some run with the starters. Perhaps that leads to the Raiders inserting Mendoza with the starters early on, such as on the second drive of the game. This could give him more needed experience against a starting NFL defense.
What could Mendoza’s potential role mean for his production in NFL Preseason Week 1?
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How Will Fernando Mendoza Perform in Preseason Debut?
On Tuesday, Kubiak once again emphasized Mendoza’s workload for Thursday night, sharing the No. 1 pick will “get plenty of reps.”
Throughout training camp, Mendoza has drawn mixed reviews. Ryan McFadden of ESPN shared the Indiana product has dealt with some struggles, including off-target throws and struggling to get his teammates aligned in pre-snap.
On August 8, Sam Warren of The Athletic echoed those reports by stating he started “a bit slow.”
Overall, it seems Mendoza is progressing throughout offseason work, as McFadden also stated he’s displayed better command of the offense compared to OTAs and minicamp. More positive reports emerged on Wednesday, with Bucky Brooks of NFL.com writing Mendoza “runs the offense like a seasoned veteran.”
This follows Mendoza’s earlier remarks about feeling behind when given Kubiak’s scheme. Snaps are everything right now, as the rookie looks to build experience and become more comfortable with an NFL system.
Kirk Cousins is expected to begin the regular season as the Raiders’ starting QB, as PrizePicks Team Picks gives the veteran a 1.05x payout on Yes to start Week 1. Meanwhile, Mendoza features a 6.25x playout to start in Week 1 vs. the Dolphins.
However, PrizePicks Team Picks gives Mendoza the second-shortest payout to win Offensive Rookie of the Year (5x). If he is to contend for that award, that suggests taking the starting job sooner rather than later. The No. 1 pick is certainly capable of applying pressure on Cousins if he continues on this trajectory.
Nearly everything leading up to tonight’s preseason game points to Kubiak looking to get Mendoza more than enough work vs. the Cardinals. Furthermore, PrizePicks Team Picks tabs the Raiders as only 2.5-point favorites with a 1.69x payout to win on Thursday, implying Mendoza could get some competitive snaps as well.
Lock in your Cardinals vs. Raiders prediction and picks on PrizePicks before tonight’s 8:00 p.m. ET kickoff.
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Make Cardinals vs. Raiders Picks on PrizePicks
While Fernando Mendoza will likely not start in his preseason debut, a heavy workload could still await the rookie as the Raiders look to develop their No. 1 overall pick from the 2026 NFL Draft. Is a big night ahead for Mendoza vs. the Cardinals?
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