Las Vegas – After a four‑game losing streak that dropped the Raiders to 3‑4, head coach Klint Kubiak made it clear that veteran quarterback Kirk Cousins will remain the starter when the team travels to face the 2‑5 New York Jets on Sunday.
Coach defends Cousins’ performance
Kubiak told reporters, via ESPN, “[Cousins is] playing at a very high level, and he’s got to continue to do that for us to win.” He added that the Raiders are “excited for him to go play against the Jets” and emphasized that the entire offense must keep supporting him.
The coach also reminded fans that the decision will be revisited if the team suffers another loss, but he believes the numbers speak for themselves. Cousins leads the NFL this season with 16 passing touchdowns, ranks third in passing yards with 1,877, and boasts a 62.6% completion rate. He has thrown only five interceptions and holds a 97.4 quarterback rating through seven games.
Rookie Fernando Mendoza’s role
First‑overall pick Fernando Mendoza, the Miami product drafted in 2026, has not yet seen game action. Kubiak explained that Mendoza is “going to play football,” but his development will continue behind Cousins for now. “Kirk is playing really well, and we’re in the hunt,” the coach said, adding that it is “important that we keep playing really well behind him and keep developing Fernando.”
When asked about Mendoza’s timeline, Kubiak responded, “Fernando is going to play at some point. It’s not going to be this week.” The plan, according to the coach, has always been to let Cousins run the offense efficiently while the rookie learns the system.
Looking ahead to the Jets matchup
The Raiders will travel to MetLife Stadium to face a struggling Jets squad that recently handed the Miami Dolphins their first win of the season in Week 7. Kubiak expressed confidence that the team’s offense, anchored by Cousins, can get back on track against the Jets’ defense.
“We’re poised and confident Cousins and the rest of the team will be back on track,” Kubiak said, underscoring the belief that the Raiders remain competitive despite recent setbacks.
What a win could mean
A victory over New York would halt the four‑game slide and keep the Raiders in the hunt for a playoff spot. If the Raiders fall short, the conversation about Mendoza’s involvement may reopen, but Kubiak indicated that any decision will be based on performance, not speculation.
For now, Las Vegas fans can expect to see Cousins leading the offense, with the rookie patiently awaiting his opportunity to contribute later in the season.
Original reporting: Fox News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
