The Las Vegas Raiders have settled the first big quarterback question of training camp, at least for now: Kirk Cousins is taking the first-team snaps. The 15th-year veteran opened full-team practice Wednesday in Henderson as QB1, while No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza began his rookie camp behind him.
Head coach Klint Kubiak announced the pecking order as veterans reported Tuesday, saying Cousins is the starter because he has played well and deserves the opportunity, according to the Las Vegas Review-Journal. Kubiak also made clear that Mendoza and Aidan O'Connell are expected to push him, setting up a competition even if Cousins currently owns the top spot.
Why Cousins Got The First Crack
Cousins brings a long résumé to a Raiders offense that is still being built, including four Pro Bowl selections and 44,700 career passing yards. He also already knows Kubiak from their time together in Minnesota, a connection that produced 12,089 passing yards and 94 touchdowns, as detailed by Raiders.com.
The choice also fits Kubiak's broader plan for Mendoza. The coach has repeatedly emphasized the value of letting a highly touted rookie learn behind an established veteran, while Cousins provides experience, command of the system and a steady hand for a young offense.
The Rookie's Runway Is Still Wide Open
Mendoza enters camp with a Heisman Trophy, a national championship and the expectations that come with being the first pick in the draft, but he has not been handed the job. In an interview published by Raiders.com, Mendoza described the quarterbacks as competing with each other rather than against each other, a notably cooperative approach for a room with so much at stake.
The first practice gave the rookie a chance to make his own case. As reported by Raiders.com, Mendoza showed command of the offense and some understated athleticism while working primarily with the second-team unit, suggesting the competition is not merely ceremonial.
Maxx Crosby's Return Adds Another Jolt
The quarterback decision was not the only major development in Henderson. Five-time Pro Bowl pass rusher Maxx Crosby returned to the practice field for the first time since last December after rehabilitating a surgically repaired knee, and he told Raiders.com that he felt incredible after finally getting back into football movements.
Kubiak also said the roster was ready to practice, including rookie cornerback Jermod McCoy, who missed the 2025 season because of a knee injury. McCoy is expected to receive early reps as the Raiders monitor his recovery, while guard and receiver jobs remain unsettled.
What Las Vegas Fans Can Watch Next
The Raiders will spend the opening practices reacclimating before putting on pads next week. The team's first public practice at Allegiant Stadium is scheduled for August 11, followed by the preseason opener against the Arizona Cardinals on August 13, according to the Raiders' training camp schedule.
For now, Cousins gets the spotlight and the bulk of the first-team work. Mendoza, meanwhile, has something almost as valuable in a quarterback competition: a veteran target in front of him, a coach who wants him to apply pressure and an entire camp to make the Raiders rethink the order.
