# Kubiak mum on Raiders starter as Fernando Mendoza struggles

> **Open Intelligence Dossier** · First detected: 2026-08-28 12:07 UTC · Category: Sports

## Executive Summary
Las Vegas Raiders coach Klint Kubiak remains undecided on the Week 1 starting quarterback following rookie Fernando Mendoza's struggles.

## Intelligence Brief
The Las Vegas Raiders have concluded their preseason without naming a starting quarterback for Week 1. This uncertainty follows a final preseason matchup against the San Francisco 49ers, where the 49ers defeated the Raiders 18-12. During this game, rookie Fernando Mendoza struggled, recording his second interception of the preseason. Despite these difficulties, head coach Klint Kubiak has refrained from officially designating a starter, while noting that Mendoza effectively needs another three preseason games of experience. The current competition for the depth chart involves Mendoza, Kirk Cousins, and Aidan O'Connell. Reporting from Yahoo Sports and USA Today emphasizes that Klint Kubiak is remaining mum on the final decision.


Yahoo Sports highlights a specific instance where Kubiak defended Mendoza, calling one throw 'excellent' and instead blasting a Raiders wide receiver for the interception. However, other reports from Yahoo Sports indicate that receiver Jack Bech has been vocal and 'doesn't hold back' regarding Mendoza's performance. Meanwhile, NBC Sports reports that Kubiak is open to a depth chart configuration where Aidan O'Connell serves as QB2 and Fernando Mendoza is relegated to QB3. Context provided by Fox News suggests that Kirk Cousins has dominated the preseason quarterback play, which has led CBS Sports to state that all signs point to Cousins as the starter. The tension surrounding the position is further evidenced by fan reactions cited by Yahoo Sports, where supporters have issued a 'please no' warning to Mendoza following his performance against the 49ers. While Raiders.com via Gutierrez argues that the lessons learned are more important than the raw numbers for Mendoza, the rookie's 'shaky' performance in the finale has drawn negative instant analysis and grades from USA Today.


Future developments will center on the official release of the Week 1 depth chart. Coverage from Bleacher Report indicates that the battle between Mendoza and Cousins remains a primary point of focus for the organization. Observers will be watching to see if Kubiak follows through with the potential move to place O'Connell above Mendoza on the roster. The Raiders' coaching staff must now decide if Mendoza's preseason struggles are outweighed by the potential he showed or if Cousins' dominance secures the starting role for the season opener.

## Multi-Source Evidence Table
| Source Outlet | Headline | Verification URL |
|---|---|---|
| Yahoo Sports | Raiders Might Bury Fernando Mendoza On Week 1 Depth Chart | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMijAFBVV95cUxNdlBpVHFQR3E0d0UwMFdkMnBtOVF2cGNDcGkxazdpZm9TaVExaWtSWVNHb0hfTTFaV1BCd28wN25mSE1rYW5CQUpZV3pubk1KaTVZX2dqai1LZkdualExN0ZGTEpkNkg3bE1BQm9jcFFEVGgtc0tYdll0X0s3S1VtMzJVT2JEYnhCYnM1QQ?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | Raiders coach throws receiver under bus, lets Fernando Mendoza off hook: ‘an excellent throw’ | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMijAFBVV95cUxNTXVmcDl6S3o4QUtmVjF0SzN1S2cwcFk0WUVJU0owaVRkNndFc0xIUEdYU0ZOSmRGOV92UFo4TFZod2l2b2szSkxISG9ZRG1QTUFJOTk5M1loa3JVQ3dBSXktYllwV3RCY3RQZ1R2Zk9ZZnJReC13Y0VNRmw4TnJaREFpdkh6eG5pSGZGUg?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | Klint Kubiak’s recent comments suggest Aidan O’Connell closer to starters role over Fernando Mendoza | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMijgFBVV95cUxPeTB6LWxiSzRQamNkejBpaENibkVHeWxRbVBMNjRsa2E2YktFNWkzeGU2V2dHMVE0cG1BMjFjd1kzWWxmQ2FmSFFmQmVPLU1NY0tKa0tKdDdaOFFEajRKNGU1bXI4Uk4yTU80YWNtYlVqc09YOHRvOHFsYTIxQlFYdnBYQkFyeXFHUjU3d3V3?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | Raiders’ Jack Bech Doesn’t Hold Back on Fernando Mendoza | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMif0FVX3lxTE1zVXR4UE55Mk9nMXY0cUZOelByMWR3aFd1S2pHdFlJai1LWmt1cUpoRjZhSkd1eEtmcmZjeGh2THZWdGtXdmViSnE2alYzcW81T2FvaG4tWC12WnpvenBRRGVDZmlBLWpzLTlZd1lPR3g0clVmaUVsRTdTbkpEYTA?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | Raiders still not ready to name starting quarterback after final preseason game | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiywFBVV95cUxObkEwcGxtWU1aX1ZiNDZIOEFMc2JxY2xMUmhBaUNvVEJ1V21yQnJ5aVBYSUVKT1pVRy0xeFJmQmVZaXRmb2RHNGM4MDB3R0UwM083Qk9OS0xQZ0J3YTBZakJGNmRqQjBLZ0ZmR0RXMC1rZURaRTcyM1FHOW5KSk13WEl5cXd6M2hmY2ZYcXM1c2NuRUk4UlhEVi15dHBvd1NwWDhtYjhBNzc4bWV2S1dQbi1mWXVoRVhpRDBsT0FrRVp6TlpOQnAzWWxyOA?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | Klint Kubiak Blasts Raiders WR for Fernando Mendoza Interception | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMihgFBVV95cUxOYjd0YmVYc3hqRFdqRHlqNG93VVE0bkZWOVJ6Qmk0R0JxU0pWSGF2UURoczQ1ZldaMWFENzlHS1dRM0tPTnhZZ2Qtb3BCUlBEdWhSZTlmS0E2aTlrMFpscHhmaEhzZVF5N0lWLXBYbGgwbldpSHUtc0tKMHNRRWhCX3BoZnYyUQ?oc=5) |
| NBC Sports | Klint Kubiak open to naming Aidan O’Connell QB2, Fernando Mendoza QB3 | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiyAFBVV95cUxOY3VtcnlNT2g1NkJMSm5VREVnMUhIZmgxVmZRMHF6dUZkWWl4aHBjeEFBZW9mOXE5b0NTb19RYjlQVEhSaW5WbERvcHlINnZqNDhiQnhFX2paeC0wMzRFWTRiaTFYSW5IdnJyYXdoaE95WExFZzB6dG5fMlgxQ0Q2UDJHdjhsLVZlZXJOdHFrYkNLdkZxTFdmVGZ1bmV6LTVXUTktZThva0dJUE8tVGk3SWhxVEtnV3JLYmNnOC1XbGUyVFlCNVNGTw?oc=5) |
| CBS Sports | Raiders' Klint Kubiak still won't name Week 1 QB starter, here's why all signs point to Kirk Cousins | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMipgFBVV95cUxPU0h3Sjl1cHctN3lOUTlMYXdiMkpLUEdUUEFiNEVVbHVnNTcyVUJWTjdVYTlRWG1UcVJ5NlhnWFVvel9hMGhTZ3B6QUt0RFNZeEVkang3UENiQXZpU3JVMlJWSzFaZUo3bWJINUgtbXMzSnU5VmFpci1jdkF6RmNEclpCdkRhVTZITlFRNVBsRG5lSkhBSUp5Zk1rWk5LMUJqMEZGSUR3?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | Fernando Mendoza finishes preseason with 2nd interception in Las Vegas Raiders-San Francisco 49ers matchup | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMikgFBVV95cUxQNFljTEluOE5LX2dVUllOc1lTU2FrOEFQU2tPdzFEM0ZmcHpJVTdMazBrOUI1andfaUFkUVpnUlVVcWlvaDE2U01OakI4NmwzRmNvQ1ZZT2ZPUVlxOV9SWmF1RzFWdk1OTGZYOGg0TGxWUzdBZkZudkszVXlCTFdWRWlNUzJiQ09xOVdiVUdWNlU3QQ?oc=5) |
| Raiders.com | Gutierrez: The lessons, not the numbers, mattered for Fernando Mendoza | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMisAFBVV95cUxNY1ZWWEFHcmwyazA3SDVYSV81cWl5bUFHelhYTnQ2M1dKa2RPdE1iUDJXd2RLeUFkRGpHTUVjNGJaNjJaN0YwcEhwU2lCQTVGMHNsalBzaFhGSTMyWlZRZTQyNWlxNXpiLXpBZjh6NVJpek9EaUZwUEhjeWNqQS1PTEdZeVFRNGNfb3lrWlZtWVpET19oRmxJaEppRUVMYUpRWmlwU3FqU3A1SG1VM1lQVA?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | Kirk Cousins or Fernando Mendoza? Klint Kubiak’s latest starting QB take leaves Raiders fans guessing | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMijAFBVV95cUxPNENfZU5GVTYyVjRZN0JCTC1zZFVrOFNJVzVBbUNGMFkyOWdfWTBISkFoamJRaEJPMnRCSFlpUVRFZTBTRS1OcjZEMDNKczNvaVo2Zm40UHF4Mk5qcGFCYnVwRi1pLXVPMGM3eUZ5dmtGOWlUM0I3WlVEd051MGJOeS13OHdkNURLeWFZcw?oc=5) |
| Yahoo Sports | Why haven’t Raiders named a Week 1 starting QB? | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMifEFVX3lxTE1vSjJIT0RhNy1MZnlvRk9tUklMeW9JMzJBUllHbHNwRmp5OGRlNENmSXBUbVduc2Q2S01Nd0ZSZmpCcjg5WGxNdE9maGxFR2ZOQ3JycVBUMWQ1UjVleDFwVW45YXpXOXJmQjZxdEF5M1BCY3BYc2hXSmJfbjI?oc=5) |
| USA Today | Klint Kubiak doesn't name Raiders QB1 after preseason finale | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMizAFBVV95cUxQWGRVQVMxTnhtMXJlMWFjV1NzLXBfY2s5YjVKVmxYN1JuQ01yR0NwVU5uQWNVRm15OG1kVXhET2ZMME43WGVpOURPNGM2OEN3ZVB1bGxCR3Zkb0doV2p1OTRpZUlDSTZyU2hzekhSRTRoQUJaUFdkZmlKUFBGWGlPTkV5STh6am93OUZQSEpnYlNPTUtYZTl5TXZqdUJTSXJkdElyd1Jyb1VyRGxoczZ3dE9KZ3NFU25BamtocW5GUzVtMXBRM1liaHV5Nk8?oc=5) |
| NFL.com | Klint Kubiak says Fernando Mendoza 'needs another 3 preseason games' as Raiders mum on Week 1 starter | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMiwgFBVV95cUxPeldPem9nb2JyS0I2Z095b1ZxbUpYNkcwMEYyb2tFSEFIeVBxbVlUVXhQR1V5NUtubDY3cXFUaDh3bE9LNFd5WFZsRVBEOVB1T0JQak1ub0ZIeXlSNEk0SXVNZzZfT3VybV95TVVja2xjVVBGRVV6UndVS1BLc1dPNXJaWl82QmlDcDEtaVBiSTgtclhheDBNTUd5TndkNWV3a2NvTEdsZW55MXVXM1NqanRGTVg1OGNkcFhfbW1HMUdqQQ?oc=5) |
| Bleacher Report | Fernando Mendoza-Kirk Cousins QB1 Battle Addressed by Raiders HC Kubiak After Rookie's Struggles | [Source Link](https://news.google.com/rss/articles/CBMi0wFBVV95cUxQT3VRUlB6VzdyRDBiN0c2TGFwcnQwQlZyN3BnQmNCUFUzNlltQ3A2QnQyd1daZ3V3LW5WbVAxN2dvdW5XS0ZLSTE3OGF5OEdQLV9QRWxtbkZrUFlxNFB0YW1uajAtQ1dsNXZyR0g5aEQ2eXdnUUZRazJDNVBHS29hVzlHZUJGZ3MyT2JfbDU0anRNVFJqdi1kT0VkcFlNeHNUaWYwX0dXdGlVWUV0VHRhZzV2X0U2aDd5bTMwOU0xcUd6d3E4aW1NTFRxRjlMYWVNNFBN?oc=5) |

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*Canonical Source: https://pulse.byoviral.com/trend/2026-08-28/kubiak-mum-on-raiders-starter-as-fernando-mendoza-struggles*