Fernando Mendoza's Raiders debut may not happen until December, ESPN's Adam Schefter suggests

Fernando Mendoza whitethorn beryllium nan first wide prime of nan 2026 NFL Draft, but nan Las Vegas Raiders don’t scheme connected having him nether halfway successful Week 1.

At least, that’s nan dream of new caput coach Klint Kubiak, who said arsenic overmuch successful March.

"You’d emotion him to beryllium capable to study down somebody. That’s successful a cleanable world," Kubiak said astatine nan clip during nan NFL Scouting Combine.

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Quarterback Fernando Mendoza, selected arsenic nan No. 1 wide prime successful nan 2026 NFL draught by nan Las Vegas Raiders, attends a news convention astatine nan Raiders Headquarters successful Henderson, Nev., connected April 24, 2026. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

But erstwhile mightiness Mendoza make his NFL debut? ESPN’s Adam Schefter believes it could travel overmuch later than fans expect, particularly fixed nan sadistic agelong of games midway done nan season.

"I deliberation they’re going to want Kirk Cousins to commencement nan season," Schefter said connected his podcast. "And if you’re going to want to move to Fernando Mendoza, nan No. 1 wide pick, astatine immoderate constituent successful time, I don’t cognize if you’re going to want to do it successful November erstwhile you person to spell play 4 roadworthy games."

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The Raiders’ November schedule originates pinch nan New York Jets connected nan road, followed by a travel to San Francisco to look nan 49ers. Then, it’s a location crippled astatine Allegiant Stadium, but against nan reigning Super Bowl-champion Seattle Seahawks.

Finally, nan Raiders person their divisional bout pinch nan Denver Broncos connected nan roadworthy earlier heading to Cleveland to look nan Browns.

"That’s not a awesome clip to person to spell to your rookie backmost if you haven’t gone to him by then. So, we could beryllium seeing Kirk Cousins up until astir December 1," Schefter added.

Quarterback Fernando Mendoza, selected arsenic nan No. 1 wide prime successful nan 2026 NFL draught by nan Las Vegas Raiders, poses pinch Raiders wide head John Spytek and caput coach Klint Kubiak astatine a news convention successful Henderson, Nev., connected April 24, 2026. (Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

After nan Browns game, nan Raiders person their bye week earlier 3 consecutive location games against nan Los Angeles Chargers, Denver Broncos and Tennessee Titans, respectively. They extremity nan play connected nan roadworthy pinch nan Arizona Cardinals successful Week 17 and Kansas City Chiefs successful Week 18.

Mendoza, nan nationalist champion and Heisman Trophy victor for nan Indiana Hoosiers this past collegiate season, will person a agleam spotlight successful Las Vegas considering his draught banal and really nan franchise believes him to beryllium their backmost of nan future.

But nan signing of Cousins, arsenic good arsenic Kubiak’s statement, points to location not needfully being an unfastened backmost title to statesman training campy this summer.

Las Vegas Raiders backmost Fernando Mendoza runs done a drill during a rookie minicamp astatine Intermountain Health Performance Center successful Henderson, Nev., connected May 2, 2026. (Candice Ward/Imagn Images)

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Of course, that could change. But Kubiak is hoping his perfect world, wherever Cousins starts and Mendoza learns and develops down a tested seasoned quarterback, is nan guidance now for nan Raiders.

Time will surely show erstwhile Mendoza takes complete nether center, but possibly Schefter is connected to thing erstwhile looking astatine nan schedule and trying to pinpoint erstwhile that NFL debut will travel for him.

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