HENDERSON, Nev. — Klint Kubiak said the starters will play in the Las Vegas Raiders’ preseason opener against the Arizona Cardinals on Thursday evening. The coach added that No. 1 pick Fernando Mendoza will get “plenty of experience” in his first NFL game action.Kubiak said the team has a plan for its starters regarding how many snaps and series it wants them to play. But he did not disclose specifics, saying there’s “no need for everyone else to know.” When asked directly about whether edge Maxx Crosby would play, Kubiak said it’s to be determined.Few details on the plan for MendozaAs for Mendoza, Kubiak said that there are a lot of players the Raiders need to evaluate, and that the rookie quarterback will get “plenty of reps.” Mendoza got his first taste of working with the first team on Saturday with Kirk Cousins held out of practice as punishment after his altercation with Crosby on Friday. Kubiak said Mendoza getting snaps with the first team “could happen” in the preseason game, but he didn’t want to talk about how he’s going to play his players. Any reps for Mendoza with the ones would probably come after Cousins is done for the day.
Kubiak said Mendoza has continued to grow throughout training camp. The Heisman Trophy winner and national champion has had highs and lows during the team’s first 10 practices, but Kubiak and his staff have been pleased with how he has responded to adversity.“It’s been an impressive training camp as far as how he’s prepared,” Kubiak said. “Then he goes out there to practice and things don’t happen … in the playbook exactly how they do on the field. I think he’s done a good job of adjusting.”Maxx Crosby is back in Las Vegas with a vengeanceSam WarrenKubiak and his staff are now keen on seeing how Mendoza responds to the added variable of facing an unfamiliar opponent.“With all of our players, we just ask that as they gain experience and they make mistakes, they don’t make the same mistakes twice. I think he’s done a good job of that,” Kubiak said. “Now that it comes to live bolts, live pass rush, that will be a whole nother animal.”McCoy is a goKubiak also said Jermod McCoy will play in Thursday’s game. The team has been managing the rookie cornerback’s workload in training camp because of a knee ailment, limiting his reps in some sessions and holding him out of practice this past Thursday.“He’s been practicing almost every day we’ve been out there, so we expect him to play,” Kubiak said. “We expect him to compete, and look forward to watching him play.”Earlier this week, McCoy said Thursday will be an emotional day for him, because it will be the first game he has played since tearing his ACL while training in January 2025, causing him to miss his entire final collegiate season at Tennessee. Kubiak said he believes McCoy’s experience in training camp will have him prepared for the moment.“It’s all about how we practice,” Kubiak said. “We’re not gonna ask him to do anything different in the game that he hasn’t done in practice. I’m really excited for him. He’s worked his tail off to get to this moment. (We’ll) just let him be himself. He’ll be the best version of himself on Thursday night.”
