Fernando Mendoza Struggles, Final Box Score Stats & Highlights from Raiders vs. Texans

Fernando Mendoza displayed some room for improvement in the second preseason game of his career on Thursday night.

The Las Vegas Raiders quarterback played the first half of a matchup with the Houston Texans, finishing 8-of-15 for 86 yards and one interception.

Mendoza's night didn't start on a high note, as the Raiders' first drive ended after he threw a pass over the middle of the field that was picked off and returned for an 80-yard touchdown.

Through Las Vegas' first two drives, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL draft was just 1-of-4 for 22 yards.

It's worth noting that Mendoza grew more comfortable throughout the remainder of the first half, but the Raiders still trailed 20-3 at halftime. They finished with 144 total yards through two quarters of action.

Mendoza wasn't as efficient compared to his preseason debut on Aug. 13, as he completed 62.5 percent of his passes for 97 yards and a touchdown through four drives against the Arizona Cardinals.

The former Indiana standout has been operating as Las Vegas' No. 2 quarterback behind veteran Kirk Cousins in training camp. Still, it isn't hard to imagine Mendoza establishing himself as the Raiders' starter under center before the end of their 2026 campaign.

While it's important not to overreact to a single preseason appearance, Mendoza will be looking to fare better than he did on Thursday night moving forward.