Raiders Name Kirk Cousins Starting Quarterback

Las Vegas Raiders head coach Klint Kubiak announced Wednesday, September 2, 2026, that veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins will be the team's starter for their season opener against the Miami Dolphins on September 13. The decision positions rookie Fernando Mendoza, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2026 NFL Draft, to begin his professional career as a backup. Cousins, 38, received the majority of first-team repetitions throughout training camp and preseason, demonstrating greater comfort and efficiency than Mendoza. In two preseason appearances, Cousins completed 13 of 17 passes for 101 yards and one touchdown. Mendoza, meanwhile, completed 25 of 45 passes for 240 yards, with one touchdown and two interceptions across his preseason outings. Kubiak stated that Cousins has earned the starting role through his performance in camp and offseason. The veteran quarterback brings extensive experience and familiarity with Kubiak's offensive system, having worked together for three seasons with the Minnesota Vikings from 2019 to 2021. During that period, Kubiak served as Cousins' quarterbacks coach before becoming the Vikings' offensive coordinator. Cousins' career statistics include a 66.