Kirk Cousins to Open Raiders Camp as QB1 over Fernando Mendoza, Klint Kubiak Says

The Las Vegas Raiders are heading into training camp with Kirk Cousins as QB1, head coach Klint Kubiak confirmed Tuesday.

Cousins signed with the Raiders in April before the franchise selected Fernando Mendoza with the top pick of the 2026 draft.

"When we go out to practice tomorrow, Kirk Cousins is the starting quarterback," Kubiak said. "He's the guy. He's gonna get a ton of reps, and he deserves it. He's played really good football."

Kubiak added he wants Mendoza and Aidan O'Connell to "push" Cousins during camp.

Cousins joined the Raiders on a contract that only includes guaranteed money for the 2026 season.

That Raiders quarterback room also features O'Connell, who is heading into the final season of his rookie deal after starting 17 games across the 2023 and 2024 seasons for the franchise, as well as undrafted free agent rookie Jacob Clark.

ESPN's Adam Schefter recently reported Cousins is the favorite to start the 2026 regular season for the Raiders.

"We'll see when they decide to change quarterbacks, but Cousins is the favorite to start on opening day. They want to bring along Mendoza very slowly," Schefter said last Thursday on ESPN's Get Up.

ESPN's Ben Solak also reported last week, however, that Mendoza is expected to "have a fair shot to win the Week 1 starting job."

"I expect Mendoza to see less than 50 percent of the first-team reps in the first week of camp, but that number could increase by the end of August," Solak reported.

Raiders training camp kicks off Wednesday. How first-team reps are divided between Cousins and Mendoza going forward could provide an indication as to how the competition is progressing.

Mendoza could potentially get his first taste of NFL action when his team opens the preseason Aug. 13 against the Arizona Cardinals.

How the former Indiana star performs in exhibition play could impact which quarterback starts when the Raiders open the regular season against the visiting Miami Dolphins on Sept. 13.