sportingnews
The Las Vegas Raiders are gearing up for Week 6 of the 2026 NFL season, having finally given fans a brief look at No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza at quarterback in the previous week. Mendoza entered the game after the outcome was decided, and while he didn't produce any standout plays, it was still a moment of excitement to see him take real NFL snaps. However, Mendoza will not be taking over as the starter in Week 6.
The question remains: when will the rookie get his chance? Bleacher Report's Brad Gagnon predicts the Raiders will make a disappointing decision regarding Mendoza, suggesting they won't bench Kirk Cousins for the rookie until Week 12. Gagnon writes, "The Bench Date: Week 12 at the Browns, giving Cousins plenty of rope while allowing Mendoza sufficient time to marinate." He adds, "The Raiders, who have a dreadful schedule between now and the end of November, will likely have fallen out of the playoff picture by the time they play Cleveland in that spot."
The Raiders enter Week 6 with a 3-2 record and are set to face the 4-1 Buffalo Bills. Cousins remains the starter, and Mendoza is still firmly the backup. After this week's matchup, the team will host the Los Angeles Rams, then travel to face the New York Jets and San Francisco 49ers in Weeks 7 through 9. Weeks 10 and 11 present perhaps the toughest stretch, with back-to-back games against the Seattle Seahawks and Denver Broncos. Those would be difficult circumstances for Mendoza's first NFL start.
That's why the following matchup in Week 12 against the Cleveland Browns is the week Gagnon predicts the Raiders will switch to Mendoza. It's a more favorable matchup for the rookie's starting debut, and it would be followed by a bye week, giving him extra time to address any issues from his first start. Mendoza is certain to get onto the field as a starting quarterback for the Raiders at some point this season, and the question seems to be whether it will happen before the bye or not. Gagnon predicts it will, but only by one week, with Mendoza taking over for Cousins in Week 12.
It would be somewhat disappointing not to see Mendoza for so long, but given the schedule, it does make sense why the Raiders might wait before handing the offense over to their No. 1 overall pick.
Key Analysis
From an analytical perspective, the Raiders' decision to delay Mendoza's starting debut appears to be a strategic move to protect the rookie from a brutal stretch of games. Facing the Seahawks and Broncos in consecutive weeks would be a trial by fire for any young quarterback, and the team likely wants to avoid shattering his confidence. Waiting until Week 12 against the Browns, followed by a bye, gives Mendoza a softer landing and an opportunity to learn from his mistakes without immediate pressure. However, this approach risks losing valuable development time and could frustrate fans eager to see the franchise quarterback in action. Ultimately, the Raiders must balance short-term competitiveness with long-term growth, and Gagnon's prediction highlights the challenges of developing a rookie QB in the NFL.
Originally reported by sportingnews.