Fernando Mendoza's Planned NFL Preseason Usage Revealed by Raiders' Klint Kubiak

Las Vegas Raiders fans will get their first look at their rookie quarterback on Thursday.

Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak said Tuesday that Fernando Mendoza will get "plenty of experience" against the Arizona Cardinals and throughout the preseason.

Mendoza is currently competing with Kirk Cousins for the starting quarterback position, and it's unclear who has the edge at this point. Kubiak did say early in camp that he expects Cousins to be pushed by Mendoza and O'Connell, which perhaps indicates that he's leaning towards the veteran.

"Any time they complete a ball better than (Cousins) does or get it out faster than he does, then he should get pissed and want to do it better," Kubiak told reporters on July 31. "That's the goal, and I think they've done that in these first three practices. Every guy is doing something good every day, and it makes the other guy want to stay after practice a little bit longer to work on that throw that they missed."

While Cousins has struggled in the years since leaving Minnesota, he is by far the most proven quarterback of the group, and that might be what Las Vegas needs as it enters a new era.

Cousins appeared in 10 games last year, throwing for 1,721 yards, 10 touchdowns and five interceptions with the Atlanta Falcons.

Still, it's hard to imagine Mendoza will have to wait his turn for too long.

The 22-year-old threw for 3,535 yards and 41 touchdowns last year, adding 276 yards and seven scores on the ground as Indiana won a national championship. Mendoza has all the makings of an NFL quarterback and a track record of winning.

Mendoza will begin his quest for NFL stardom on Thursday. If he plays well enough in the preseason, he could significantly increase his chances of starting Week 1.