Cousins Will Start for Raiders Against Patriots
The Las Vegas Raiders maintain their veteran leadership for the October 12, 2026, matchup against the New England Patriots.
Updated on Oct. 11, 2026 in Football
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The Las Vegas Raiders will continue to start Kirk Cousins at quarterback for their game against the New England Patriots on October 12, 2026. Backup quarterback Fernando Mendoza will not participate in the contest as he continues to sit out.
Why it matters
The Raiders are leaning on veteran experience to maintain their current 3-1 record throughout the season. Head coach Klint Kubiak is prioritizing a gradual development path for the 23-year-old Mendoza rather than rushing him into the starting lineup.
Kirk Cousins recorded nine touchdown passes across his first three games for the Raiders. Fernando Mendoza previously threw for 3,004 yards at Cal and 3,535 yards with 41 touchdowns at Indiana.
The players
Kirk Cousins
He is the 38-year-old veteran starting quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders.
Fernando Mendoza
He is the 23-year-old backup quarterback for the Las Vegas Raiders who previously played at Cal and Indiana.
Klint Kubiak
He is the coach managing the Las Vegas Raiders roster and quarterback development.
The details
Klint Kubiak continues to manage the team's quarterback development, keeping the young Mendoza on the bench for the fifth straight game. Analysts speculate that Mendoza could potentially see his first start later in the season during the Week 8 game against the New York Jets.
Timeline
October 11, 2026: Article publication date.
October 12, 2026: Raiders face the New England Patriots.
Season Trajectory
The decision to keep the veteran Cousins at the helm signals that the Raiders are committed to competing for a playoff spot immediately. This stability keeps the team's championship aspirations on track while allowing for long-term development of the younger roster members.
Fantasy managers relying on Raiders passing production should continue to rely on Kirk Cousins' target distribution. The absence of Mendoza from the active rotation means the team remains locked into a conservative, veteran-led offensive structure for the immediate future.
The takeaway
The Raiders are choosing to prioritize veteran stability over the immediate deployment of their younger prospects. This strategy aims to build on their strong early-season start by minimizing risk during critical conference matchups.
Further reading
For more on the team's roster, visit Las Vegas Football.
Source note: This article includes information reported by Heavy.
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