Klint Kubiak open to naming Aidan O'Connell QB2, Fernando Mendoza QB3

Published August 28, 2026 04:44 PM Raiders quarterback Fernando Mendoza might start his rookie season as a third-stringer.Coach Klint Kubiak has not said who his starting quarterback is, but it’s widely expected to be Kirk Cousins. Kubiak was asked today whether, if Cousins is the starter, Mendoza or Aidan O’Connell will be the backup. And Kubiak said that decision has not yet been made.“We’ve got three guys that are ready to play. It’s going to be some hard decisions on who’s 1, who’s 2. That’s not a decision we have to make today, but those are discussions that are ongoing,” Kubiak said.It’s not often that the first overall pick in the draft starts his career on the third team, but Kubiak seems to be in no rush to get Mendoza on the field. It appears likely that Cousins is going to start the season with Mendoza on the sideline, and Mendoza may not get on the field early in the season even if Cousins goes down.