The Las Vegas Raiders have not officially named their starting quarterback for Week 1 of the 2026 NFL season, leaving Kirk Cousins and rookie Fernando Mendoza in the quarterback conversation heading into the regular season.
Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak declined to name his Week 1 starter following Las Vegas’ preseason finale against the San Francisco 49ers on Thursday, August 27.
The decision means the Raiders will enter the final stretch before the regular season without publicly confirming whether Cousins or Mendoza will start under center.
However, Cousins remains the favorite to start Week 1 against the Miami Dolphins after operating ahead of Mendoza during the preseason.
Here is the latest on the Raiders starting quarterback situation heading into Week 1.
Has the Raiders Starting Quarterback Been Named?
No. The Las Vegas Raiders have not officially named their Week 1 starting quarterback.
Kubiak declined to make an announcement following the Raiders’ final preseason game against the 49ers.
That leaves Cousins and Mendoza as the two quarterbacks under consideration entering the final preparations for the regular season.
While there has been no official announcement, the way Las Vegas has handled its quarterbacks during training camp and the preseason points toward Cousins opening the season as the starter.
Is Kirk Cousins the Raiders Starting Quarterback?
Kirk Cousins appears to be the favorite to become the Raiders’ Week 1 starting quarterback, but Las Vegas has not officially given him the job.
Cousins entered training camp as the leading candidate and has generally worked ahead of Mendoza.
He also started the Raiders’ preseason finale against San Francisco.
Cousins completed 8 of 11 passes for 51 yards in the game.
His experience could also give him an advantage when the Raiders make their final decision.
Cousins has spent more than a decade in the NFL and has extensive experience as a starting quarterback.
Could Fernando Mendoza Start for the Raiders?
Fernando Mendoza remains part of the Raiders’ quarterback situation, although the rookie appears more likely to begin his NFL career behind Cousins.
Mendoza completed 7 of 14 passes for 57 yards with one interception against San Francisco in the preseason finale.
Kubiak indicated afterward that Mendoza would benefit from additional preseason-type repetitions.
Those opportunities become more difficult to provide once the regular season begins and teams shift their focus toward preparing the starting lineup each week.
That could point toward Las Vegas allowing Mendoza additional time to develop rather than immediately making him the Week 1 starter.
Kirk Cousins vs. Fernando Mendoza
The Raiders’ quarterback decision essentially comes down to experience versus long-term potential.
Cousins provides Las Vegas with an experienced veteran capable of immediately running Kubiak’s offense.
Mendoza represents a younger option who could eventually become the franchise’s long-term answer at quarterback.
For Week 1, however, the veteran appears to have the advantage.
| Quarterback | Week 1 Status |
|---|---|
| Kirk Cousins | Favorite to start |
| Fernando Mendoza | Rookie competing for the job |
| Official Starter | Not yet announced |
When Will the Raiders Name Their Starting Quarterback?
Las Vegas has not announced when Kubiak will publicly reveal his starting quarterback.
With the preseason completed, the Raiders now have time to evaluate the position before beginning preparations for their regular-season opener.
An announcement could come during the lead-up to Week 1, although the Raiders are not required to publicly name a starter well in advance of the game.
Practice repetitions and comments from Kubiak will provide additional indications of which quarterback is preparing to start.
Who Do the Raiders Play in Week 1?
The Las Vegas Raiders will open the 2026 NFL regular season against the Miami Dolphins on Sunday, September 13.
The game will provide the first major test for Kubiak and the Raiders’ offense.
Unless Las Vegas changes direction before the opener, Cousins currently appears positioned to get the first opportunity to lead that offense.
Raiders QB Depth Chart
The Raiders’ quarterback situation entering the final weeks before the regular season centers around:
- Kirk Cousins
- Fernando Mendoza
The exact order will become clearer once Kubiak officially announces his Week 1 starter.
For now, Cousins should be considered the favorite based on how Las Vegas has distributed quarterback repetitions and handled the preseason.
Who Will Start at Quarterback for the Raiders in Week 1?
Kirk Cousins is currently the favorite to start at quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders against the Miami Dolphins in Week 1, but head coach Klint Kubiak has not officially announced his decision.
Cousins’ experience and position atop the quarterback competition give him the apparent advantage over Mendoza.
However, until Kubiak makes an announcement, the Raiders’ Week 1 quarterback situation technically remains unresolved.
The decision will be one of the biggest Raiders storylines to watch as Las Vegas prepares for the start of the 2026 NFL season.