The Las Vegas Raiders are not changing quarterbacks yet. Coach Klint Kubiak said on Monday that Kirk Cousins will start Sunday’s game against the New York Jets, even after the team’s fourth straight loss.
That means No. 1 overall pick Fernando Mendoza keeps waiting for his first NFL snap.
What Kubiak said
Kubiak was asked about the position after the Raiders lost 35-21 to the Los Angeles Rams in Week 7.
On Cousins, he said the veteran is "playing at a very high level," and that the team needs him to keep it up to win.
On Mendoza, his answer was clear: "Fernando is going to play at some point. It’s not going to be this week."
Kubiak also pointed out that the Raiders are still in the playoff race. After the Rams game he had said the team was "thinking about everything," which led to talk of a switch. He has also said everything will be looked at again after another loss.
Why Cousins is still the starter
The losing streak isn’t really Cousins’ fault. His numbers through seven games are among the best in the league:
| Stat | Kirk Cousins (2026) |
|---|---|
| Touchdown passes | 16 (most in the NFL) |
| Passing yards | 1,877 (3rd in the NFL) |
| Completion rate | 62.6% |
| Interceptions | 5 |
| Passer rating | 97.4 |
With those numbers, benching Cousins would be about the future, not about this season.
The case for playing Mendoza
The Raiders started 3-0 and are now 3-4. If the losses continue, the playoffs become unlikely, and getting the No. 1 pick real game experience starts to matter more than winning now. Many teams start a top rookie quarterback once the season looks lost, so he can learn before next year.
The risk is starting a rookie behind an offense that is struggling. A bad first experience can hurt a young quarterback’s confidence.
What to watch Sunday
The Raiders play at the New York Jets (2-5) in Week 8, a winnable game against one of the league’s weaker teams.
- If Las Vegas wins: Cousins likely stays the starter, and the Raiders stay in the race.
- If Las Vegas loses: That would be five losses in a row, and Mendoza’s debut could come soon after.
See the kickoff time and TV channel in our NFL Week 8 schedule, and where the Raiders rank in our Week 8 power rankings.
Sources: OutKick / Fox News, ESPN, NFL.com.
