Kirk Cousins will be under center when the Las Vegas Raiders open their 2026 season. Head coach Klint Kubiak announced Wednesday that the 14-year veteran has won the starting quarterback job over rookie Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick in this year’s NFL Draft. The decision ends months of speculation and sets up one of the more intriguing storylines of Week 1.
Cousins signed with Las Vegas in April on a deal that guarantees him $20 million for the 2026 season, with the Raiders responsible for $11.3 million of that figure after the Falcons agreed to cover the rest following his release. The contract also carries a club option for two more years and $80 million, though it is widely viewed as essentially a one-year prove-it deal at this stage of his career. Despite the Raiders using the top pick in the draft on Mendoza, Kubiak made clear throughout camp that the job was Cousins’ to lose.
Kubiak Explains the Call
“Kirk’s had a really good offseason, a very good camp and he’s earned it,” Kubiak told reporters Wednesday, confirming Cousins as his Week 1 starter. It’s a reversal of the usual script around a No. 1 overall quarterback pick — Mendoza becomes the first top selection at the position since Baker Mayfield in 2018 not to start on opening day. Kubiak had resisted naming a starter for weeks, even after the preseason finale, saying he wanted to review the tape before making it official. Aidan O’Connell rounds out the quarterback room as the No. 3 option.
The competition wasn’t always smooth. Cousins was briefly held out of team drills in August following a scuffle with star pass rusher Maxx Crosby, which gave Mendoza his first extended look with the starting offense. But once healthy and back in the fold, Cousins reclaimed the first-team reps and never relinquished them, according to reports out of Raiders training camp.
Wednesday Absence Adds a Wrinkle
The timing of Kubiak’s announcement was notable given what happened on the practice field the same day. Cousins did not participate in Wednesday’s session, appearing only briefly in a red jersey and hat before the media viewing window closed. The reason for his absence was not disclosed, though the getup suggested a planned rest day rather than a new injury concern. With Cousins on the sideline, Mendoza ran the first-team offense, picking up valuable reps as the regular season approaches. Running back Ashton Jeanty was also out of Wednesday’s practice while managing an ankle issue.
None of it appears to threaten Cousins’ hold on the job. The Raiders’ plan is set: Cousins will lead the offense when Las Vegas hosts the Miami Dolphins in the season opener on Sunday, September 13, with the Raiders currently sitting as 3.5-point favorites. Bettors weighing that opening line and others across the league can track live NFL odds as more markets open throughout the week.
What’s Next for the Raiders
For Cousins, the assignment is straightforward: prove he can still be an effective starter after a rocky stretch in Atlanta and give Las Vegas a stable presence behind center while the front office evaluates its long-term answer at the position. For Mendoza, Week 1 as a clipboard-holder is an unusual starting point for a top overall pick, but Kubiak has signaled the rookie will keep pushing throughout the year and could see the field if performance or health dictates a change.
The Raiders enter the season with plenty of scrutiny on Kubiak’s first year running the show, and how he manages the quarterback situation will be one of the top stories to track as Las Vegas tries to climb back into AFC West contention. Kickoff against Miami is set, and all eyes will be on whether the 38-year-old Cousins can deliver the kind of performance that keeps Mendoza waiting in the wings.
