Featured Video
Smith Sets B1G Yards Record ๐Ÿ‘‘ (via @Fox)
49ers Raiders Football
AP Photo

Raiders Wanted to Bench Kirk Cousins for Mendoza Before Vikings Trade, New NFL Rumors Explain Plan

Joseph ZuckerNov 15, 2026

The Las Vegas Raiders were planning for a quarterback change before Kirk Cousins' trade to the Minnesota Vikings, according to NFL Network's Ian Rapoport.

Fernando Mendoza was likely to move up the depth chart "in the next few weeks," according to Rapoport. "If Las Vegas had lost Sunday to the defending Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks and the Denver Broncos on Nov. 22, Mendoza would have started on Nov. 29 against the Cleveland Browns," Rapoport reported.

With Cousins gone, he's now the starter for Sunday's game against the Seattle Seahawks.

This article will be updated soon to provide more information and analysis.

Make Bleacher Report one of your preferred sources on Google by selecting Bleacher Report on the "source preferences" page here.

For more from Bleacher Report, check out our B/R app, homepage and social feedsโ€”including Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, TikTok and YouTube.