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HENDERSON, Nev. -- The Las Vegas Raiders will keep Kirk Cousins under center as their starting quarterback for Sunday's road game against the New York Jets, head coach Klint Kubiak said Monday. Kubiak made it clear that there is no debate about benching the 38-year-old veteran in favor of rookie Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick.
"[Cousins is] playing at a very high level, and he's got to continue to do that for us to win," Kubiak stated. "We got to keep helping all the areas around him. [I'm] excited for him to go play against the Jets."
Cousins' status seemed uncertain after Kubiak said he would evaluate all aspects of the team, including the quarterback position, following the Raiders' 35-21 loss to the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday. That defeat extended their losing streak to four games and dropped their record to 3-4.
During the skid, Cousins has been far from the Raiders' main problem. He leads the NFL with 16 touchdown passes and ranks third in passing yards with 1,877. Against the Rams, he overcame a shaky first half to finish with 295 passing yards and two touchdowns, posting a 59.1% completion rate and a 94.4 passer rating. Los Angeles blitzed him on 29.2% of his dropbacks, sacking him twice and pressuring him 19 times.
Kubiak also noted that Mendoza will get playing time. The rookie made his NFL debut in Week 5 against the New England Patriots, entering at the six-minute mark of the fourth quarter and completing 6 of 8 passes for 48 yards. Kubiak added that the team has a plan for Mendoza but no timeline for when the Heisman Trophy winner will make his first career start.
For now, Cousins has Kubiak's full support. "Kirk is playing really well, and we're in the hunt," Kubiak said.
Key Analysis
Kubiak's decision to stick with Cousins underscores the team's belief that the veteran gives them the best chance to win despite the recent slump. Cousins' impressive individual stats, leading the league in touchdown passes, support that stance. However, the presence of Mendoza, the top draft pick, adds a layer of intrigue to the quarterback situation moving forward. While Kubiak insists there's no controversy, the Raiders' plan for Mendoza suggests the rookie will see the field eventually, but for now, Cousins remains the starter as the team fights to stay competitive.
Originally reported by players_bio.